Be part of the knowledge.™
Register

We’re glad to see you’re enjoying ReachMD…
but how about a more personalized experience?

Register for free
  1. Home
  2. Medical News
  3. Emergency Medicine

Statement on Pain During Cesarean Delivery

ReachMD Healthcare Image
04/10/2024
News Faviconasahq.org

Developed by: Committee on Obstetric Anesthesia
Original Approval: October 18, 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this statement on pain during cesarean delivery is to support clinician awareness, provide pragmatic advice, and suggested best practices while helping to improve maternal outcomes and patient experience. This statement and recommendations assist the practitioner and patient in making decisions about health care. These recommendations while designed to assist, may be adopted, modified, or rejected according to clinical needs and constraints, are not intended to replace local institutional policies, are not intended as standards or absolute requirements, and their use cannot guarantee any specific outcome.1

Introduction
Neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean delivery is generally considered the preferred method of anesthesia, being used for more than 95% of elective and 80% of emergent cesarean deliveries in the US.2-4  Although very reliable, neuraxial techniques (i.e. spinal, epidural, combined spinal epidural, et al.) can be inadequate or fail to provide full surgical anesthesia.  Pain during cesarean delivery may be treated with supplementation of neuraxial anesthesia, intravenous or inhaled analgesia/anesthesia, or conversion to general anesthesia. In a prospective study of over 5,000 cesarean deliveries, failure to achieve pain-free surgery occurred in 6% of patients with spinal anesthesia, 18% with combined spinal-epidural, 24% with labor epidural to cesarean top-up and with an overall rate of conversion to general anesthesia of 4.9%.5  Pain or discomfort during cesarean delivery may be due to multiple reasons, some of which may be preventable.6  This statement is intended to help raise awareness, inform, and help improve outcomes and patient experience.

Expert Opinion:
While many hospitals track general anesthesia rates in cesarean delivery for quality improvement, the incidence of pain associated with regional anesthesia has not often been part of quality improvement efforts and remain largely untracked. In a systematic review, 14.6% cesarean deliveries with neuraxial technique required supplemental analgesia or anesthesia.7 In prospective surveys, the incidence of pain during cesarean delivery occurred in 11.9%8 to 22.7%.9 Neuraxial failure can be defined as “failure to provide satisfactory surgical conditions and/or maternal comfort and satisfaction during caesarean section with or without conversion to general anesthesia”.9

Pain during cesarean delivery has potential downstream consequences. In the United Kingdom, pain during cesarean delivery was the most common cause for litigation related to obstetric anesthesia care.10 Pain during cesarean has been described by an obstetric anesthesiologist from their perspective as a patient who experienced pain and offered ideas for practice improvement.11   Significant pain during cesarean may affect the patient experience and has been associated as an independent risk factor for postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).12  Patient perception may be an important predictor for pain consequences, therefore communication and support are encouraged.12,13  In a systematic review and meta-analysis, perinatal pain significantly increased (OR 1.43) and epidural analgesia significantly decreased (OR 0.42) the incidence of postpartum depression,14 although data are conflicting.   

Disparities in the type of anesthesia used for cesarean delivery and maternal pain management occur.15 African-American race (aOR 1.7-1.9) and Hispanic ethnicity (aOR 1.5) had significantly increased association for receiving general anesthesia, even after adjustment for obstetric and non-obstetric covariates.16,17

Thus, this statement serves to inform practitioners and give recommendations that may help decrease pain during cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia and help identify and guide management to meet individual patient desires and needs. Recognition of risk factors, past medical or non-medical traumatic experiences, patient education, and shared decision making may help improve patient experience and reduce disparities.15,18

The American Society of Anesthesiologists Committee on Obstetric Anesthesia identified seven areas related to pain during cesarean delivery.

Recommendations
The following recommendations regarding pain during cesarean delivery are organized into seven topics with explanations and suggested best practices:

  1. Preoperative Assessment
  2. Minimizing Risk of Inadequate Regional Anesthesia
  3. Supplementation of Inadequate Regional Anesthesia
  4. Conversion to General Anesthesia
  5. Conduct of General Anesthesia
  6. Follow-Up and Referral
  7. QI

Table 1. Preoperative Assessment

Why This The preoperative anesthesia assessment is a time when a preoperative conversation with the patient can elicit risk factors, inform the clinician of patient expectations, allow the clinician to give the patient a framework of what will happen during the procedure, and facilitate shared decision making for the anesthetic care plan. 
BackgroundThe shared decision-making process explores the risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment options in a collaborative fashion. When multiple options for management are possible, care should be patient and provider driven.19 Benefits of shared decision making include patients having fewer regrets about treatment, better perceived communication with clinicians, improved treatment adherence, increased confidence and coping skills, greater comfort with making decisions.20 Moreover, shared decision-making leads to better health outcomes.21
Best Practices
  1. Awareness
    • Awareness of the frequency and factors that may contribute to pain or discomfort during cesarean
      • The true prevalence of pain during cesarean section and failure of neuraxial anesthesia is unknown and may be up to 20% or more.5,8,22,23 There may be significant under-estimation of the true prevalence of pain during cesarean delivery as studies focus on an anesthesia intervention as the defining event, not the occurrence of self-reported pain.11
  2. Preoperative History
    • Identify patients with a history of traumatic delivery, pain during previous cesarean delivery, stress in pregnancy, and anxiety.23 Risk factors for the development of postpartum PTSD include obstetric events and patient experience. Anesthesia providers are uniquely positioned to mitigate some of these risk factors during cesarean delivery care and to mobilize resources when traumatic experiences occur.12 
    • Ask about any concerns and fears of upcoming anesthesia, surgery, or pain using compassionate and respectful communication.18  Inform patients of the risks and benefits of neuraxial anesthesia and general anesthesia along with the potential for pain and discomfort during cesarean delivery.24
      • Pain during and after cesarean delivery was the most important concern for patients.25 Intraoperative cesarean pain may affect patients and their support system.26 Patients with self-reported unexpected explicit recall after regional anesthesia techniques and sedation report distress (78%) and persistent acute and long-term psychological sequelae (40%) including impact on job performance, family relationships, friendships, and self-reported diagnosis of PTSD.27
  3. Awareness of Risk Factors for Intraoperative Pain5,6,12,28
    • Patient specific
      • High BMI
      • H/o spine surgery
      • H/o pain during prior cesarean
      • Fear of pain
      • Chronic pain
      • Opioid use disorder
    • Neuraxial procedure specific
      • Neuraxial administration at the level of L5-S1
    • Labor specific
      • Intrapartum breakthrough pain
      • Increased pain scores within 2 h of cesarean
      • Chorioamnionitis
    • Obstetric factors
      • Urgent/eminent cesarean
      • Duration of cesarean
      • Exteriorization of uterus
  4. Seek your Patient's Participation
    • Create an environment that is supportive to patient involvement in their care decisions. Acknowledging the potential for pain during cesarean section in the preoperative consent emphasizes the importance of the patient’s experience to the anesthesia care team with the goal to build trust and open communication.6
      • Three-talk model of shared decision-making may be helpful:29
        • Team talk: Work together, describe choices, offer support and ask about goals
        • Option talk: Comparing options using risk communication principles
        • Decision talk: Get to informed preferences, make preference-based decisions
  5. Assess Patient Values and Preferences
    • Seek understanding of patient preferences.
    • Set expectations about (dis)comfort during cesarean6
      • When given a choice, postpartum patients weighed their experience of pain versus their risk and preferences of side effects such as exposure of pain medication through breastmilk. Patients were willing to tolerate a pain score of 56 +/- 22 out of a 100 visual analog scale before taking pain medication.25
  6. Reach a Decision with Your Patient
    • Identify a plan
    • Seek confirmation of plan with patient

Table 2. Minimizing Risk of Inadequate Regional Anesthesia

Why This Inadequate regional anesthesia may necessitate conversion to general anesthesia, which carriers greater risk and potential patient dissatisfaction.  Rates of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery may potentially be decreased by applying best obstetric anesthesia practices. 
BackgroundIn a prospective study of over 5,000 cesarean deliveries, failure to achieve pain-free surgery occurred in 6% of patients with spinal anesthesia, 18% with combined spinal-epidural, 24% with labor epidural to cesarean top-up and with an overall rate of conversion to general anesthesia of 4.9%.5

Local anesthetics, often combined with lipophilic opioids have been demonstrated to provide reliable spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery.30 Epidural anesthesia is used for approximately 29-44% of cesarean sections and most women who undergo urgent or emergent cesarean sections have an existing epidural catheter in situ for labor analgesia.31 The block level should be tested and noted prior to initiating skin incision.5,13 Patient perception may be an important predictor for pain consequences, therefore communication and support are encouraged.12
Best Practices
  1. Use a recognized technique for neuraxial block for cesarean.13
  2. Use local anesthetic with lipophilic opioid in spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery.
    • The ED95 for successful cesarean delivery completion was approximately 12 mg of intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine when intrathecal fentanyl and morphine  were co-administered.30,32
    • Inclusion of a spinal opioid was associated with lower failure rate of spinal anesthesia.5
  3. Assess quality of analgesia and dosing requirement for labor epidurals, consider early replacement for inadequate labor analgesia and adequate dosing for conversion to cesarean surgical anesthesia
    • Failed conversion of a pre-existing labor epidural catheter to a surgical epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery presents a challenging clinical situation for the anesthesiologist, particularly for emergent obstetric indications. 
    • Increased risk for failed conversion of epidural analgesia to surgical anesthesia occurs with: an increasing number of clinician-administered boluses during labor (OR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.8–5.5) and greater urgency for cesarean delivery (OR = 40.4, 95% CI 8.8–186). Management by an obstetric anesthesiologist decreased epidural conversion failure rate from 7.2% to 1.6%.33
      • An increasing number of clinician-administered boluses during labor is associated with increased maternal pain during labor. Breakthrough pain (especially an increase in parturient pain in the 2 hours before a cesarean section) may be a marker for a poorly functioning epidural catheter or it may signify dysfunctional labor and the need for obstetric intervention. 
      • Greater urgency for cesarean delivery can lead to use of general anesthesia with no attempt made to convert epidural analgesia to surgical anesthesia because of the perception that it takes less time to induce general anesthesia than it does to convert epidural analgesia to anesthesia.
      • Factors that may lead to successful conversion to surgical anesthesia include awareness of the quality of labor epidural analgesia, willingness  to replace epidural catheters providing inadequate labor analgesia or performing another neuraxial technique before starting the cesarean.
    • Early replacement of poorly functioning labor epidurals may improve the success rate of dosing for surgical anesthesia.13 A standardized algorithm for labor epidural top-up for breakthrough pain resulted in higher rate of catheter replacement.34 
    • Conversion of labor epidural to cesarean surgical anesthesia may begin in the labor room with a small bolus (i.e. 5 ml) prior to transport, with another bolus on arrival in OR.35 This may help identify working/non-working epidural catheters earlier.
  4. Check neuraxial surgical level prior to start of surgery and document sensory level.
    • The Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association recommends that light touch to a T5 dermatomal level be the primary modality to evaluate the block but acknowledge limitations in this method because it relies on excellent communication between the patient and the clinician.13 A patient who is able to do a straight leg raise will almost always not have a block suitable for cesarean delivery regardless of the quality of sensory block.
    • The optimal method of testing neuraxial block to predict full surgical anesthesia has not been determined.13

Table 3. Supplementation of Inadequate Regional Anesthesia

Why This Inadequate regional anesthesia for cesarean delivery can usually be treated with neuraxial and systemic adjuvant medication, providing adequate surgical anesthesia and potentially avoiding conversion to general anesthesia. 
BackgroundTwo retrospective reviews reported systemic anesthetic adjuvant administration rates of 13%36 and 18%37 for cesarean delivery. Neuraxial anesthetic adjuvant medications include additional epidural local anesthetics (e.g. lidocaine, chloroprocaine) and lipophilic opioids (e.g. fentanyl). Systemic anesthetic adjuvant medications include intravenous fentanyl, ketamine, midazolam, propofol, and inhaled nitrous oxide et al. Obstetricians can also provide supplemental anesthesia with infiltration of local anesthetic in the surgical field and not exteriorize the uterus for repair, which increases pain. Pain and anxiety may require being addressed separately, with pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic approaches. Pain should not be treated with anxiolytics or hypnotics alone.
Best Practices
  1. Evaluation of Inadequate Blockade
    • Detecting and treating inadequate blockade includes good communication with patients and coordination with surgical/obstetrical teams, as well as situational awareness encompassing fetal, maternal, and surgical contexts.
    • Acknowledge pain or discomfort experienced by the patient. Evaluation should include identifying the location and extent of discomfort, level of anesthesia, surgical progress and stage, and addressing any other factors that can be exacerbating the discomfort (e.g., uterine exteriorization, patient’s ability to communicate, surgical complications). Anesthetic evaluation can include sensory level and blockade quality or ‘density’ for assessing potential response to administering adjuvant agents such as neuraxial lipophilic opioids or alpha2 adrenergic agonists.
    • If feasible, consider pausing surgical stimulation while addressing pain. 
  2. Shared Decision Making
    • Shared decision making depends upon situational urgency, emergency treatment paradigms, and patient-system engagement in the prenatal, pre-operative and intra-operative periods. 
    • In urgent/emergent situations the anesthesiologist may keep the patient and their support person abreast of developments as reasonably practicable.
    • Communication between obstetrical and anesthesia teams.6
  3. Neuraxial Anesthesia Replacement
    • Decisions to replace or not replace neuraxial anesthesia immediately before surgery should weigh maternal and fetal needs and risks, and open discussions together with obstetrician and patient can optimize decision making around replacement of neuraxial anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia soon after epidural anesthesia dosing may be associated with high neuraxial blockade or hypotension. Repeat epidural anesthesia and surgical redosing should consider local anesthetic systemic toxicity considerations.
  4. Neuraxial Medications for Inadequate Regional Blockade
    • Local anesthetics, lipophilic opioids, and alpha2 agonists have been described as neuraxial adjuvants for patients with inadequate regional blockade.26
    • If an epidural catheter is in place, consider dosing with supplemental local anesthetics e.g. lidocaine 2% with epinephrine 5 mcg/ml or chloroprocaine 3%, not to exceed recommended doses for systemic toxicity. 
    • Lipophilic opioids (e.g. fentanyl) are among the most commonly used neuraxial methods to treat pain. Alpha2 adrenergic agonists like IV dexmedetomidine or neuraxial clonidine have also been used. 
    • Note that many of these commonly used medications do not have specific FDA approved indications for the neuraxial route of administration. The decision to use or not use these modalities is the individual’s decision based on the surgical, maternal, fetal considerations, judgement on patient responsiveness to these modalities, and other considerations around management of alternative anesthetic options including general anesthesia (e.g., airway examination, course of labor, etc.).
  5. Systemic and Inhaled Medications for Inadequate Regional Blockade
    • Lipophilic opioids (e.g. fentanyl), benzodiazepines (e.g. midazolam), alpha-2 adrenergic agonists (e.g. clonidine, dexmedetomidine), sedative hypnotics (e.g. propofol) and nitrous oxide have been described in the treatment of inadequate regional blockade during cesarean delivery.36,37 
    • When using supplemental opioid, sedative, hypnotic or other medications that can affect respiratory or mental status, the level of consciousness should be monitored. The avoidance of General Anesthesia must be balanced against the risk of deep sedation with an unprotected airway in a population known to be at increased risk of aspiration. ASA intraoperative standards should be met.38
  6. Local Anesthetic Surgical Infiltration
    • Infiltration of local anesthesia in the surgical field has been described to supplement neuraxial anesthesia, prior to skin incision.39 It is used predominantly in low-resource areas where neuraxial anesthesia options for cesarean delivery are lacking. 
    • Local anesthetic infiltration to supplement poorly functioning neuraxial anesthesia may be used in an emergency.40
    • There is insufficient evidence to inform recommendations on use or non-use of local anesthesia skin and fascia infiltration as a supplemental analgesic intervention for patients with inadequate regional blockade detected during cesarean delivery. This should not be considered a primary method of supplementation.
  7. Documentation
    • Documentation is important in the setting of patient discomfort and pain. A patient’s perception of an intraoperative event may not be consistent with the provider’s perception of the same event.12 An expression of pain or  discomfort by the patient is valid and warrants a discussion regarding next steps.

Table 4. Conversion to General Anesthesia

Why This Regional anesthesia for cesarean delivery will occasionally be inadequate for surgical anesthesia. The clinician should be able to diagnose the need for and manage this clinical event. 
BackgroundDespite the best efforts of the clinician to provide adequate regional anesthesia, failure of regional anesthesia requiring conversion to general anesthesia occurred in 4.9% in one prospective study.5  The conversion rate for scheduled cases was 0.06% in a systematic review.7
Best Practices
  1. Patient preferences for conversion to general anesthesia ideally discussed previously in preoperative assessment.
    • Recommendation: Have a preoperative conversation with the patient as described in Table 1.
  2. Measures to prevent inadequate regional anesthesia should be utilized.
    • Use best practices to avoid inadequate regional anesthesia as described in Table 2.
  3. Assess the nature of the pain or discomfort.
    • If the patient becomes increasingly uncomfortable during the surgery, it is important to first acknowledge the patient’s experience and discomfort and assess the nature and quality of the pain and/or discomfort.13,37 Dismissal or delayed management of pain may increase the risk of psychological sequelae.13 Communicate with the patient that their pain or discomfort will be managed.
  4. Attempt to treat pain with neuraxial and/or systemic anesthetic adjuvant medication.
    • Administer additional neuraxial anesthetic and/or systemic anesthetic adjuvant medication as described in Table 3.
  5. Be willing to convert to general anesthesia if needed.
    • Have equipment and personnel available.
  6. Use situational awareness and shared decision making when deciding to convert to general anesthesia.
    • Depending on the stage of the surgery, the obstetric team should be asked to pause the surgery, assuming it is safe to do so. If measures fail to improve patient comfort, conversion to general anesthesia may become necessary. The anesthesiologist should use their knowledge and expertise in deciding when general anesthesia should be offered.13 If possible, there should be shared decision making between the anesthesia care team, surgical team and the patient if intraoperative conversion to general anesthesia is being considered.13,41 If feasible, consider pausing surgical stimulation while intubating.

Table 5. Conduct of General Anesthesia

Why This Clinicians should know how to administer general anesthesia for cesarean delivery using best practices.
BackgroundIn a multicenter study of over 257,000 obstetric anesthetics, 5.6% of cesarean deliveries were performed under general anesthesia with an incidence of failed airway was 1:533.42 Once the decision has been made to proceed with intraoperative conversion to general anesthesia, skilled assistance should be sought to help with the preparation of medications, airway equipment, suction, and to provide cricoid pressure during the induction of anesthesia and assist with airway management. 
Best Practices
  1. Optimal Positioning
    • Patient positioning should be optimized to increase the chances of successful intubation. 
    • Recommendation: Raising the head of the bed by 20-30 degrees for pre-oxygenation and intubation in term parturients has been shown to increase functional residual capacity;43 it may also improve lung compliance if mask ventilation is warranted,44 slightly improve the view of the glottic opening,45 facilitate easier airway manipulation in patients with large breasts, and decrease the risk of gastroesophageal reflux.46 In morbidly obese patients, the “ramped” position, with supports placed under the shoulders and upper body, better facilitates flexion of the neck and extension of the head and provides a superior laryngeal view to the sniffing position alone.47,48
  2. Adequate Pre-Oxygenation (De-Nitrogenation)
    • Pre-oxygenation (de-nitrogenation) with a tight mask-to-face seal with a high fresh gas flow rate of to achieve fractional end-tidal oxygen ≥ 0.8 is recommended. This may be achieved with two-three minutes of tidal breathing or 4-8 vital capacity breaths.2,46,49
  3. Rapid Sequence Induction
    • Due to concerns for the rare but serious risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents, rapid sequence induction is utilized.2
    • Adequate doses of a hypnotic agent such as propofol 2 – 2.8 mg/kg,50 or in the setting of hemodynamic instability, ketamine 1 – 1.5 mg/kg51 or etomidate 0.3 mg/kg52 may be used. Fast-onset neuromuscular blocking agent succinylcholine (1 – 1.5 mg/kg) achieves paralysis within 30 – 40 seconds. High-dose rocuronium (1.0 – 1.2 mg/kg) with sugammadex 16mg/kg as a backup for rocuronium binding and reversal may be used as an alternative, when succinylcholine should be avoided.53 Opioids are typically not routinely administered prior to delivery of the fetus, but may be advisable in some situations such as severe maternal hypertension, cardiac disease or neurologic compromise.52,54,55 Despite controversy regarding proven efficacy, cricoid pressure is recommended to be applied initially with a force of 10 N, with an increase in force to 30 N upon loss of consciousness.46,56 Mask ventilation is usually avoided to prevent gastric insufflation, however if necessary to prevent or manage hypoxemia, gentle ventilation below 20 cmH2O pressure is recommended.46
  4. Laryngoscopy
    • Since video laryngoscopes usually provide a better view than with direct laryngoscopy, they may be used preferentially, for the first attempt.57 Styletted and smaller-diameter cuffed endotracheal tubes of 6.5 or 7.0 mm should be used to minimize tissue trauma.46 Sometimes decreasing cricoid pressure may provide a better view. Correct endotracheal tube placement should be confirmed with continuous expired end-tidal capnography. Difficult or failed attempts should prompt the anesthesia provider to follow the difficult airway guidelines.46,58
  5. Maintenance of Anesthesia
    • Maintenance of anesthesia should target adequate maternal oxygenation and normocapnia. A FiO2 of 0.3-0.5 is usually sufficient. Prior to delivery, end-tidal levels of 1.0 MAC of inhaled anesthetic agents are usually delivered, with a decrease to <0.5 – 0.75 MAC after delivery, which may be supplemented by 50-70% nitrous oxide, to limit the dose-dependent uterine relaxation associated with volatile agents.2,59 Benzodiazepines (e.g. midazolam) may be administered after delivery to reduce the risk of maternal awareness. Total intravenous anesthesia may reduce the risk of hemorrhage due to having little or no effect on myometrial contractility at usual clinical doses.60
    • Note that patients having general anesthesia for cesarean delivery are considered as at increased risk for intraoperative recall.
    • Consider regional anesthesia techniques to help provide post-operative analgesia e.g. TAP block, wound infiltration.

Table 6. Follow-Up and Referral

Why This The patient’s experience during cesarean delivery is a unique perspective that should be engaged by the clinician. 
BackgroundBoth anesthesiologists and obstetricians significantly underestimated when patients experienced pain during cesarean delivery in a prospective study.8 Pain during cesarean has been described by an obstetric anesthesiologist from the perspective of a patient who experience pain and offered ideas for practice improvement.11 Moreover, there are potential long-term effects for patients who have recall of unpleasant events during surgical procedures.27 Patients who experience significant pain or discomfort may benefit from appropriate follow-up and referral. 
Best Practices 
  1. Engage the patient when they communicate having pain or discomfort during cesarean delivery.
    • Good communication is essential to eliciting patient concerns about pain61 and helps identify intraoperative pain during cesarean delivery.6,23
  2. Acknowledge, discuss and treat intraoperative pain.
    • This topic is covered in Tables 3 and 4.
  3. On the postoperative visits follow-up with patients who experienced pain and help identify patients who experienced pain during cesarean delivery. 
    • The postoperative visit is used for feedback and can  elicit anesthetic complications62 as well as improved patient satisfaction.63
  4. Appropriately document the patient’s stated experience of pain and your actions to address it.
    • In the United Kingdom, untreated pain during cesarean delivery was the most common cause of litigation related to obstetric anesthesia practice.10
    • Clinicians should document an accurate description of the patient’s pain or discomfort and any measures taken to address it. For postoperative recall of intraoperative pain, clinicians should also document the occurrence and management.
  5. Refer for follow-up or consultation for significant adverse experiences to an appropriate professional.
    • Anesthetic complications are an independent variable for the development of PTSD.12

Table 7. Quality Improvement

Why This Quality improvement processes systematically improve care and suggest opportunities for improvement. 
BackgroundAnesthesiologists are integral to the safe provision of modern obstetric care, delivery of anesthesia, and perioperative services on labor and delivery. As such, broader quality metrics to guide overall performance are needed. Suggested quality metrics for obstetric anesthesia were previously selected to highlight various areas for potential improvement, and to assist in improving the quality of care provided, but this is not a complete list and did not include pain during cesarean.64
Best Practices 
  1. Audit Appropriate Metrics6
    • Percentage of patients who receive general anesthesia for cesarean delivery64
    • Percentage of patients who receive systemic analgesic/anesthetic adjunct for cesarean delivery performed under neuraxial anesthesia64
      • The route, amount and drug type have not been validated, but may reveal opportunities for quality improvement and potential changes in practices.
      • Studies have focused on anesthesia interventions as the defining event for metrics, not the occurrence of self-reported pain.11 Other appropriate metrics may be considered or developed in the future.

References

  1. Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia: An Updated Report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Obstetric Anesthesia and the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. Anesthesiology. Feb 2016;124(2):270-300. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000935
  2. Tsen LC, Bateman B. Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery. In: CHestnut DHW, CA; Tsen, LC; Ngan Kee, W; Beilin, Y.; Mhyre, J.; Bateman BT, ed. Chestnut's Obstetric Anesthesia, Sixth Edition. Elsevier; 2019:chap 26.
  3. Traynor AJ, Aragon M, Ghosh D, et al. Obstetric Anesthesia Workforce Survey: A 30-Year Update. Anesth Analg. Jun 2016;122(6):1939-46. doi:10.1213/ane.0000000000001204
  4. Juang J, Gabriel RA, Dutton RP, Palanisamy A, Urman RD. Choice of Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery: An Analysis of the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry. Anesth Analg. Jun 2017;124(6):1914-1917. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000001677
  5. Kinsella SM. A prospective audit of regional anaesthesia failure in 5080 Caesarean sections. Anaesthesia. Aug 2008;63(8):822-32. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2044.2008.05499.x
  6. Landau R, Janvier AS. Are we finally tackling the issue of pain during cesarean section? Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. Oct 2021;40(5):100938. doi:10.1016/j.accpm.2021.100938
  7. Patel R, Kua J, Sharawi N, et al. Inadequate neuraxial anaesthesia in patients undergoing elective caesarean section: a systematic review. Anaesthesia. May 2022;77(5):598-604. doi:10.1111/anae.15657
  8. Keltz A, Heesen P, Katz D, et al. Intraoperative pain during caesarean delivery: Incidence, risk factors and physician perception. Eur J Pain. Jan 2022;26(1):219-226. doi:10.1002/ejp.1856
  9. Frank E, Sharpe EE, Kohn G, Kohl-Thomas B, Shaver C, Hofkamp MP. Predictors of intraoperative pain during cesarean delivery under regional anesthesia. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2022;35(5):595-598. doi:10.1080/08998280.2022.2086789
  10. McCombe K, Bogod DG. Learning from the Law. A review of 21 years of litigation for pain during caesarean section. Anaesthesia. Feb 2018;73(2):223-230. doi:10.1111/anae.14119
  11. Stanford SE, Bogod DG. Failure of communication: a patient's story. Int J Obstet Anesth. Dec 2016;28:70-75. doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2016.08.001
  12. Vogel TM, Homitsky S. Antepartum and intrapartum risk factors and the impact of PTSD on mother and child. BJA Educ. Mar 2020;20(3):89-95. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2019.11.005
  13. Plaat F, Stanford SER, Lucas DN, et al. Prevention and management of intra-operative pain during caesarean section under neuraxial anaesthesia: a technical and interpersonal approach. Anaesthesia. May 2022;77(5):588-597. doi:10.1111/anae.15717
  14. Mo J, Ning Z, Wang X, Lv F, Feng J, Pan L. Association between perinatal pain and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. Sep 1 2022;312:92-99. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.010
  15. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Reducing Maternal Peripartum Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Anesthesia Care: Statement and Recommendations. In: Committee on Obstetric Anesthesia, editor. https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-guidelines/statement-on-reducing-maternal-peripartum-racial-and-ethnic-disparities-in-anesthesia-care: American Society of Anesthesiologists; 2021.
  16. Butwick AJ, El-Sayed YY, Blumenfeld YJ, Osmundson SS, Weiniger CF. Mode of anaesthesia for preterm Caesarean delivery: secondary analysis from the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network Caesarean Registry. Br J Anaesth. Aug 2015;115(2):267-74. doi:10.1093/bja/aev108
  17. Butwick AJ, Blumenfeld YJ, Brookfield KF, Nelson LM, Weiniger CF. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mode of Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery. Anesth Analg. Feb 2016;122(2):472-9. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000000679
  18. Vogel TM. Unique Pain Management Needs for Pregnant Women with Pre-existing PTSD and Other Mental Health Disorders. Current Anesthesiology Reports. January 7 2021 2021;11:1-11. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-020-00430-5
  19. AHRQ. Shared Decision Making. AHRQ. 2023. https://www.ahrq.gov/health-literacy/professional-training/shared-decision/index.html
  20. Barnett G, Swart M. Shared decision making for high-risk surgery. BJA Educ. Aug 2021;21(8):300-306. doi:10.1016/j.bjae.2021.03.006
  21. Guadagnoli E, Ward P. Patient participation in decision-making. Soc Sci Med. Aug 1998;47(3):329-39. doi:10.1016/s0277-9536(98)00059-8
  22. Pan PH, Bogard TD, Owen MD. Incidence and characteristics of failures in obstetric neuraxial analgesia and anesthesia: a retrospective analysis of 19,259 deliveries. Int J Obstet Anesth. Oct 2004;13(4):227-33. doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2004.04.008
  23. Keita H, Deruelle P, Bouvet L, et al. Raising awareness to prevent, recognise and manage acute pain during caesarean delivery: The French Practice Bulletin. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. Oct 2021;40(5):100934. doi:10.1016/j.accpm.2021.100934
  24. Bogod D. Pain during caesarean section. BJOG. Apr 2016;123(5):753. doi:10.1111/1471-0528.13845
  25. Carvalho B, Cohen SE, Lipman SS, Fuller A, Mathusamy AD, Macario A. Patient preferences for anesthesia outcomes associated with cesarean delivery. Anesth Analg. Oct 2005;101(4):1182-1187. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000167774.36833.99
  26. Martinello C, Williams M, Mhyre J. Regional Anesthesia and Analgesia for Cesarean Delivery. In: N. E, Nada E, eds. Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine: A problem-based learning approach. Oxford University Press; 2023:chap 35.
  27. Kent CD, Mashour GA, Metzger NA, Posner KL, Domino KB. Psychological impact of unexpected explicit recall of events occurring during surgery performed under sedation, regional anaesthesia, and general anaesthesia: data from the Anesthesia Awareness Registry. Br J Anaesth. Mar 2013;110(3):381-7. doi:10.1093/bja/aes386
  28. Katakura Y, Nagamine Y, Goto T, Sumikura H. Association of chorioamnionitis with failed conversion of epidural labor analgesia to cesarean delivery anesthesia: A retrospective cohort study. PLoS One. 2021;16(5):e0250596. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0250596
  29. Elwyn G, Durand MA, Song J, et al. A three-talk model for shared decision making: multistage consultation process. BMJ. Nov 6 2017;359:j4891. doi:10.1136/bmj.j4891
  30. Ginosar Y, Mirikatani E, Drover DR, Cohen SE, Riley ET. ED50 and ED95 of intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine coadministered with opioids for cesarean delivery. Anesthesiology. Mar 2004;100(3):676-82. doi:10.1097/00000542-200403000-00031
  31. Carvalho B. Failed epidural top-up for cesarean delivery for failure to progress in labor: the case against single-shot spinal anesthesia. Int J Obstet Anesth. Oct 2012;21(4):357-9. doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2011.06.012
  32. Onishi E, Murakami M, Hashimoto K, Kaneko M. Optimal intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine dose with opioids for cesarean delivery: a prospective double-blinded randomized trial. Int J Obstet Anesth. May 2017;31:68-73. doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2017.04.001
  33. Bauer ME, Kountanis JA, Tsen LC, Greenfield ML, Mhyre JM. Risk factors for failed conversion of labor epidural analgesia to cesarean delivery anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational trials. Int J Obstet Anesth. Oct 2012;21(4):294-309. doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2012.05.007
  34. Ende HB, Tran B, Thampy M, Bauchat JR, McCarthy RJ. Standardization of epidural top-ups for breakthrough labor pain results in a higher proportion of catheter replacements within 30 min of the first bolus dose. Int J Obstet Anesth. Aug 2021;47:103161. doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2021.103161
  35. Bauer ME, Mhyre JM. Active Management of Labor Epidural Analgesia Is the Key to Successful Conversion of Epidural Analgesia to Cesarean Delivery Anesthesia. Anesth Analg. Nov 2016;123(5):1074-1076. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000001582
  36. Davis PR, Sviggum HP, Delaney DJ, Arendt KW, Jacob AK, Sharpe EE. Intravenous Dexmedetomidine as an Adjunct to Neuraxial Anesthesia in Cesarean Delivery: A Retrospective Chart Review. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2021;2021:9887825. doi:10.1155/2021/9887825
  37. Clevenger K, Maresh B, Graham H, Hammonds K, Hofkamp MP. The use of adjunct anesthetic medication with regional anesthesia and rates of general anesthesia for 1867 cesarean deliveries from 2014 to 2018 in a community hospital. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). Jul 22 2020;33(4):536-540. doi:10.1080/08998280.2020.1790277
  38. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Standards for Basic Anesthetic Monitoring. https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-guidelines/: American Society of Anesthesiologists; 2020.
  39. Cooper MG, Feeney EM, Joseph M, McGuinness JJ. Local anaesthetic infiltration for caesarean section. Anaesth Intensive Care. May 1989;17(2):198-201. doi:10.1177/0310057X8901700212
  40. Mankowitz SK, Gonzalez Fiol A, Smiley R. Failure to Extend Epidural Labor Analgesia for Cesarean Delivery Anesthesia: A Focused Review. Anesth Analg. Nov 2016;123(5):1174-1180. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000001437
  41. Ring L, Landau R, Delgado C. The Current Role of General Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery. Curr Anesthesiol Rep. 2021;11(1):18-27. doi:10.1007/s40140-021-00437-6
  42. D'Angelo R, Smiley RM, Riley ET, Segal S. Serious complications related to obstetric anesthesia: the serious complication repository project of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. Anesthesiology. Jun 2014;120(6):1505-12. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000000253
  43. Hignett R, Fernando R, McGlennan A, et al. A randomized crossover study to determine the effect of a 30 degrees head-up versus a supine position on the functional residual capacity of term parturients. Anesth Analg. Nov 2011;113(5):1098-102. doi:10.1213/ANE.0b013e31822bf1d2
  44. Makinen MT, Yli-Hankala A. Respiratory compliance during laparoscopic hiatal and inguinal hernia repair. Can J Anaesth. Sep 1998;45(9):865-70. doi:10.1007/BF03012221
  45. Lee BJ, Kang JM, Kim DO. Laryngeal exposure during laryngoscopy is better in the 25 degrees back-up position than in the supine position. Br J Anaesth. Oct 2007;99(4):581-6. doi:10.1093/bja/aem095
  46. Mushambi MC, Kinsella SM, Popat M, et al. Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association and Difficult Airway Society guidelines for the management of difficult and failed tracheal intubation in obstetrics. Anaesthesia. Nov 2015;70(11):1286-306. doi:10.1111/anae.13260
  47. Collins JS, Lemmens HJ, Brodsky JB, Brock-Utne JG, Levitan RM. Laryngoscopy and morbid obesity: a comparison of the "sniff" and "ramped" positions. Obes Surg. Oct 2004;14(9):1171-5. doi:10.1381/0960892042386869
  48. El-Orbany M, Woehlck H, Salem MR. Head and neck position for direct laryngoscopy. Anesth Analg. Jul 2011;113(1):103-9. doi:10.1213/ANE.0b013e31821c7e9c
  49. Nimmagadda U, Salem MR, Crystal GJ. Preoxygenation: Physiologic Basis, Benefits, and Potential Risks. Anesth Analg. Feb 2017;124(2):507-517. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000001589
  50. Dailland P, Cockshott ID, Lirzin JD, et al. Intravenous propofol during cesarean section: placental transfer, concentrations in breast milk, and neonatal effects. A preliminary study. Anesthesiology. Dec 1989;71(6):827-34. doi:10.1097/00000542-198912000-00003
  51. McDonald JS, Mateo CV, Reed EC. Modified nitrous oxide or ketamine hydrochloride for cesarean section. Anesth Analg. Nov-Dec 1972;51(6):975-85. 
  52. Orme RM, Grange CS, Ainsworth QP, Grebenik CR. General anaesthesia using remifentanil for caesarean section in parturients with critical aortic stenosis: a series of four cases. Int J Obstet Anesth. Jul 2004;13(3):183-7. doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2003.12.008
  53. Stourac P, Adamus M, Seidlova D, et al. Low-Dose or High-Dose Rocuronium Reversed with Neostigmine or Sugammadex for Cesarean Delivery Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial of Time to Tracheal Intubation and Extubation. Anesth Analg. May 2016;122(5):1536-45. doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000001197
  54. Heesen M, Klohr S, Hofmann T, et al. Maternal and foetal effects of remifentanil for general anaesthesia in parturients undergoing caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. Jan 2013;57(1):29-36. doi:10.1111/j.1399-6576.2012.02723.x
  55. Kutlesic MS, Kutlesic RM, Mostic-Ilic T. Attenuation of cardiovascular stress response to endotracheal intubation by the use of remifentanil in patients undergoing Cesarean delivery. J Anesth. Apr 2016;30(2):274-83. doi:10.1007/s00540-015-2118-5
  56. Salem MR, Khorasani A, Zeidan A, Crystal GJ. Cricoid Pressure Controversies: Narrative Review. Anesthesiology. Apr 2017;126(4):738-752. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000001489
  57. Howle R, Onwochei D, Harrison SL, Desai N. Comparison of videolaryngoscopy and direct laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation in obstetrics: a mixed-methods systematic review and meta-analysis. Can J Anaesth. Apr 2021;68(4):546-565. Comparaison de la videolaryngoscopie et de la laryngoscopie directe pour l'intubation endotracheale en obstetrique : une revue systematique de methodes mixtes et une meta-analyse. doi:10.1007/s12630-020-01908-w
  58. Apfelbaum JL, Hagberg CA, Connis RT, et al. 2022 American Society of Anesthesiologists Practice Guidelines for Management of the Difficult Airway. Anesthesiology. Jan 1 2022;136(1):31-81. doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000004002
  59. Turner RJ, Lambrost M, Holmes C, et al. The effects of sevoflurane on isolated gravid human myometrium. Anaesth Intensive Care. Oct 2002;30(5):591-6. doi:10.1177/0310057X0203000508
  60. Metodiev Y, Lucas DN. The role of total intravenous anaesthesia for caesarean delivery. Int J Obstet Anesth. Aug 2022;51:103548. doi:10.1016/j.ijoa.2022.103548
  61. Gupta A. The importance of good communication in treating patients' pain. AMA J Ethics. Mar 1 2015;17(3):265-7. doi:10.1001/journalofethics.2015.17.3.sect1-1503
  62. Dahmen KG, Albrecht DM. An approach to quality management in anaesthesia: a focus on perioperative care and outcome. Eur J Anaesthesiol Suppl. 2001;23:4-9. 
  63. Capuzzo M, Gilli G, Paparella L, et al. Factors predictive of patient satisfaction with anesthesia. Anesth Analg. Aug 2007;105(2):435-42. doi:10.1213/01.ane.0000270208.99982.88
  64. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Statement on Quality Metrics. In: Committee on Obstetric Anesthesia, editor. https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-guidelines/statement-on-quality-metrics: American Society of Anesthesiologists; 2022.

    Read full article
    Schedule22 Nov 2024
    PrevNext

    Program Chapters

    Segment Chapters

    Playlist:

    Recommended