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Neuraxial anesthesia has become the preferred method of anesthesia for nonemergent cesarean delivery and cases where regional anesthesia is not contraindicated. Multiple cases of broken spinal and epidural needles have been reported in the literature over the last several years; however, the specific incidence of needle breakage is still unknown. Less reliance on general anesthesia and increasing parturient body mass index (BMI) has likely contributed to more reports of broken needles during regional anesthesia for obstetric surgery. We describe a case of a broken spinal needle after attempted spinal anesthetic placement for cesarean delivery in a morbidly obese parturient, subsequent postoperative management, and current treatment recommendations.

You are stationed in the southern part of Togo, a small country on the West African coast. An emergency Cesarean section is scheduled. The patient is 18 years old (gravida 1, para 0) and her gestation is 37 weeks. She has not been attending the prenatal clinic. Six hours ago she went into spontaneous labor. A decision to deliver the child by Cesarean section was made based on a brow presentation with the cervix 7 cm dilated and fully effaced. The patient refuses a spinal anesthetic and would prefer a general anesthetic.

Background Outpatient hip arthroplasty is being performed more routinely; however, safety remains a concern. The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of adverse events of outpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA) and assess barriers to discharge. Methods We examined 136 patients who underwent unilateral THA by one surgeon and were discharged on the same day of surgery. Using propensity matching, 136 inpatients who received the same procedure, and were discharged on postoperative day one or later, were identified. For each cohort, 90-day occurrence of adverse events, readmissions, and emergency visits were recorded and compared. Adverse events were graded using the OrthoSAVES tool. A secondary objective was to assess potential barriers to same-day discharge. Results Within 90 days postoperatively, 12 outpatients (8.82%) and 14 inpatients (10.29%) developed an adverse event. There were no significant differences between the rate or severity of adverse events between the 2 groups and no serious adverse events in either group. In the outpatient group, there was a correlation between the dosage of spinal anesthetic (bupivacaine) given and time required to stay in postanesthetic care unit postoperatively. Conclusion When comparing the 2 groups, there were no differences in adverse events at 90 days. At our center, in the appropriate patient population, outpatient THA is a safe and cost-effective option. A potential barrier to mobility postoperatively and successful same-day discharge is the time required to stay in postanesthetic care unit postoperatively, which was significantly correlated with an increased dose of spinal anesthetic given in our outpatient cohort.

Knowledge of hospital-specific average cesarean delivery operative times, and factors influencing length of surgery, can serve as a guide for anesthesiologists when choosing the optimal anesthetic technique. The aim of this study was to determine operative times and the factors influencing those times for cesarean delivery.We conducted a retrospective review of all 1348 cesarean deliveries performed at an academic hospital in 2011. The primary outcome was mean operative time for first, second, third and fourth or more cesarean deliveries. The secondary goal was to identify factors influencing operative time. Variables included age, body mass index, previous surgery, gestational age, urgency of cesarean delivery, anesthesia type, surgeon's seniority, layers closed, and performance of tubal ligation.Mean (standard deviation) operative times for first (n=857), second (n=353), third (n=108) and fourth or more (n=30) cesarean deliveries were 56 (19), 60 (19), 69 (28) and 82 (31) minutes, respectively (P 0.0001, all groups different). Emergency status of the case and later gestational age were associated with shorter operative times. Higher body mass index, a less senior surgeon, the number of layers closed, and tubal ligation, increased operative times. These factors accounted for 18% of the variability.Third and fourth cesarean delivery or the presence of other factors that could increase operative time may warrant catheter-based anesthetic techniques or the addition of adjunctive medications to prolong spinal anesthetic block. Institutional and individual surgeon factors may play an even more important role in determining surgical time.

Two series of ropivacaine analogs (4a–4q, 7a–7c) were synthesized, and their biological activities were evaluated as local anesthetic agents. Most of the compounds displayed detectable local anesthetic characteristics. Among them, compound 4l showed significant efficacy with sciatic nerve block, infiltration, corneal surface, and spinal anesthetic activities. It was as potent as the reference compound ropivacaine. Dissociation constants of these compounds were 5.9–7.9. In addition, molecular docking modeling on compound 4l and ropivacaine was performed to delineate structural requirements and potential mechanisms for the local anesthetic activity. This study provides valuable new information for our ongoing endeavor to design more potent local anesthetics.

A 33-year-old woman, G2P1 at 39 weeks gestation, is having an elective repeat cesarean delivery. The resident places a single-shot spinal anesthetic at the L4-5 interspace (L-1) and very slowly and carefully (L-2) injects 1.6 mL of heavy 0.75% bupivacaine, combined with 100 mcg of preservative-free morphine and 25 mcg of fentanyl.

A 34-year-old woman, G1P0 and at 36 weeks estimated gestational age, slips on the stairs at home and fractures her right ankle (L-1). She is otherwise in good health and last ate 2 h before her injury. The orthopedists feel that the fracture needs to be repaired immediately since there are signs of neurovascular compromise at the ankle. The patient is afraid of the effect of general anesthesia on the baby and is happy when the anesthesia provider suggests that a spinal anesthetic would be a good technique in her case. He says that he will add morphine and fentanyl to the intrathecal mixture, thereby giving her some pain relief for the first 24 h after surgery.

Pentanyl patch dapat digunakan untuk manajemen nyeri pascabedah. Tujuan penelitian ini membandingkan efektivitas kombinasi fentanyl patch 12,5 µg/jam dan 25 µg/jam dengan ketorolak 30 mg intravena pada pascabedah ortopedi ekstremitas bawah dengan anestesi spinal. Penelitian ini merupakan uji klinis acak tersamar ganda pada 24 pasien dengan status fisik American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) I dan II, usia 18–50 tahun yang menjalani operasi ortopedi ekstremitas bawah di kamar operasi bedah sentral Rumah Sakit H. Adam Malik dan rumah sakit jejaring pada bulan Oktober–November 2015. Pasien dibagi menjadi dua kelompok, yaitu 12 orang menerima fentanyl patch 12,5 µg/jam (A) dan 12 orang menerima fentanyl patch 25 µg/jam (B) ditempelkan ±2 jam sebelum pembedahan dan dikombinasi dengan ketorolak 30 mg intravena yang diberikan saat dimulainya insisi. Penilaian skala nyeri dilakukan menggunakan nilai visual analog scale (VAS). Data hasil penelitian diuji dengan uji chi-square. Hasil perhitungan statistika didapatkan kombinasi kelompok fentanyl patch 25 µg/jam bermakna lebih efektif dibanding dengan kelompok fentanyl patch 12,5 µg/jam (p

Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF) is associated with improved patient-reported outcomes in well-selected patients. Recently, some neurosurgeons have aimed to further improve outcomes by utilizing multimodal methods to avoid the use of general anesthesia. Here, the authors report on the use of a novel awake technique for MI-TLIF in two patients. They describe the successful use of liposomal bupivacaine in combination with a spinal anesthetic to allow for operative analgesia.

Hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.75% in dextrose) is used for spinal obstetric anesthesia. Occasional clusters of anesthetic failures occur in this setting, not readily attributable to clinical factors. We hypothesized that cold temperature exposure is related to bupivacaine instability.An electronic survey was distributed to Canadian anesthesiologists to determine consistencies in spinal anesthesia practice, and to invite submission of failed bupivacaine samples for analysis. Another survey for hospital pharmacists focused on bupivacaine logistics. Ultraviolet (UV) spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and high performance liquid chromatography were used to evaluate the effect of temperature on bupivacaine chemical stability. Mass spectrometry (MS) was used to observe bupivacaine and dextrose degradation in laboratory samples of hyperbaric 0.75% bupivacaine in dextrose. Hyperbaric bupivacaine that failed to produce adequate anesthesia in labour and delivery patients was subject to tandem MS/MS analysis on commonly observed ions to look for ion patterns consistent with bupivacaine degradation products and to compare with laboratory samples subjected to cold temperatures.Canadian obstetric anesthesiologists report similar practices and use hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia. Pharmacists surveyed indicated facility storage at room temperature but variable temperatures during shipping. No standard procedure for failure reporting was identified. Analysis of bupivacaine showed a slight decrease in bupivacaine concentration or UV spectral changes after incubation at temperatures ≤ 4°C. Mass spectrometric analysis of hyperbaric bupivacaine from failed spinal anesthesia cases showed complex and inconsistent patterns of ion formation, and different from the ion patterns observed for cooled vs uncooled bupivacaine solutions. Temperature-related changes were noted for dextrose in cooled samples in which dextrose-related ions were formed.Canadian clinical practice and handling of hyperbaric bupivacaine is consistent. Most respondents indicated an interest in a formal reporting and collection process. Cold exposure did not degrade bupivacaine. A complex and possibly inconsistent reaction involving dextrose was identified that requires further analysis of a larger sample size to elucidate the mechanisms.RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: La bupivacaïne hyperbare (0,75 % dans du dextrose) est utilisée pour l’anesthésie obstétricale rachidienne. Il arrive parfois que plusieurs anesthésies rapprochées soient inefficaces dans cette situation, et ces échecs ne sont pas nécessairement attribuables à des facteurs cliniques. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse qu’une exposition de la bupivacaïne au froid expliquerait son instabilité. MéTHODE: Un sondage électronique a été distribué aux anesthésiologistes canadiens afin de déterminer les similitudes dans la pratique de la rachianesthésie, et nous avons invité les médecins à nous envoyer des échantillons de bupivacaïne à des fins d’analyse lorsque leur anesthésie était inefficace. Un autre sondage, envoyé aux pharmaciens hospitaliers, mettait l’emphase sur la logistique entourant la manutention de la bupivacaïne. Nous avons utilisé une spectrométrie de rayons ultraviolets (UV), une analyse calorimétrique différentielle et une chromatographie liquide à haute performance afin d’évaluer l’effet de la température sur la stabilité chimique de la bupivacaïne. Une spectrométrie de masse (SM) a été utilisée pour observer la dégradation de la bupivacaïne et du dextrose dans des échantillons de laboratoire de bupivacaïne hyperbare 0,75 % dans le dextrose. La bupivacaïne hyperbare qui n’a pas procuré une anesthésie adéquate chez des patientes en travail ou en accouchement a été sujette à une analyse de SM/SM en tandem sur les ions fréquemment observés afin d’identifier des modèles ioniques correspondant aux produits de dégradation de la bupivacaïne et les comparer à des échantillons de laboratoire soumis au froid. RéSULTATS: Les anesthésiologistes obstétricaux canadiens font état de pratiques semblables et utilisent de la bupivacaïne hyperbare pour réaliser une rachianesthésie. Les pharmaciens interrogés ont indiqué que la bupivacaïne était entreposée à température ambiante au sein de leur établissement mais qu’elle était exposée à des températures variables pendant l’expédition. Aucune procédure standardisée n’a été identifiée pour rapporter les échecs d’anesthésie. L’analyse de la bupivacaïne a montré une légère réduction dans la concentration de bupivacaïne ou des changements spectraux UV après une période d’incubation à des températures ≤ 4°C. L’analyse par spectrométrie de masse des échantillons de bupivacaïne hyperbare utilisés lors d’échecs de la rachianesthésie a révélé des types de formation des ions complexes et incohérents, lesquels différaient des modèles des ions observés dans les solutions de bupivacaïne refroidies vs non refroidies. Les changements liés à la température ont été notés sur le dextrose dans les échantillons refroidis dans lesquels des ions liés au dextrose se sont formés. CONCLUSION: La pratique clinique canadienne et la manutention de la bupivacaïne hyperbare est homogène. La plupart des répondants ont indiqué être intéressés par un processus formel d’enregistrement et de récolte des données. L’exposition au froid n’a pas dégradé la bupivacaïne. Une réaction complexe et possiblement inconstante ayant un rapport avec le dextrose a été identifiée; elle requiert des analyses approfondies sur un échantillonnage plus important afin d’en élucider les mécanismes.

Background: Our previous study found that emulsified isoflurane (EI) produced subarachnoid anesthesia in dogs. The spinal effect of isoflurane might account for its immobility action. 1, 2-dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane (F6) is a nonimmobilizer that is incapable of causing immobility, it is therefore interesting to know whether there are different spinal anesthetic actions between emulsified F6 and isoflurane and their underlying mechanisms.Methods: EI and emulsified F6 were intrathecally injected into rats, and motor and sensory functions were evaluated. Sodium channel currents were recorded from spinal neurons. The effect of EI and emulsified F6 on sodium channel was examined.Results: EI produced subarachnoid anesthesia (median effective concentration [EC50]at 3.65%). Duration of actions of 8% EI was similar to 1% lidocaine. Emulsified F6 did not produce spinal anesthesia at 2% (5 folds of its predicted EC50). Meanwhile, EI inhibited sodium channel currents with median inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 0.81±0.09 mmol/L and hyperpolarized voltage-dependent inactivation of sodium channel (from -57.5±2.4 to -66.3±1.8 mV, P

To investigate the influence of age on sensitivity to dexmedetomidine sedation in adult patients, we selected 79 patients scheduled for lower limb orthopedic surgery under spinal anesthesia to identify the dexmedetomidine ED50 for adequate sedation among different age groups. After a spinal anesthetic was placed, a dose of dexmedetomidine determined by the Dixon up-and-down method was administered over 15 minutes. The ED50 in the elderly group was lower than in the other 2 groups (elderly: 0.88 ± 0.07; middle aged: 1.16 ± 0.08; young: 1.21 ± 0.06 µg/kg; both P < .001). There was no difference between the young and middle-aged groups (P = .160).

A parturient with unknown thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) received spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery with subsequent discovery of a platelet count of 7000 × 10/L. Neurologic recovery was normal. Limited data exist to determine the risk of spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) in severely thrombocytopenic patients because they often receive alternate labor analgesia or general anesthesia during cesarean delivery. There is reporting bias in the literature toward cases in which severely thrombocytopenic patients sustain complications after regional anesthesia. It is important to report all cases of neuraxial anesthesia in severely thrombocytopenic patients, including those such as ours, wherein patients recover normally.

Introduction: Headache after spinal anesthesia is a frequently seen complication. The mechanism of headache is intracranial hypotension due to cerebrospinal fluid leaking after meningeal traumatization. The headache is typically orthostatic. Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare disease. The most common clinical symptom is headache. Headache can appear with different characteristic features. Case Report: In the presented case, there was headache that was resistant to treatment and occurred after spinal anesthesia. The patient applied to the emergency service several times, and her complaint was thought to be associated with spinal anesthesia, and she was given treatment in that direction. But, after some scanning and laboratory tests and physical examinations we made, we found that the headache originated from cerebral venous thrombosis. Conclusion: Headache in a patient with previous spinal anesthesia history can be regarded as secondary to intracranial hypotension. But, as seen in the presented case, other reasons should be investigated if there is progression in the headache and orthostatic of spinal anesthesia associated headache disappears.

An 86-year-old woman with an abdominal aortic aneurysm presents for endovascular repair. She has no history of myocardial infarction (MI) or angina symptoms. Her electrocardiogram (ECG) shows no ST changes, q-waves, or T-wave abnormalities, and her echocardiogram is unremarkable. She takes no medications. You decide to administer 20 mg of rosuvastatin to the patient in the holding area since vascular surgery patients are at a high risk of perioperative MI. Shortly, thereafter you proceed to the operating room where a spinal anesthetic is placed and the vascular surgeon begins the procedure.

The aims of the study were to evaluate the spinal anesthetic effect of caramiphen and also assess spinal anesthetic interactions of caramiphen with lidocaine. Lidocaine, a common local anesthetic, was used as control. Dose-dependent responses of intrathecal caramiphen on spinal anesthesia were compared with lidocaine in rats. The interactions of caramiphen with lidocaine were evaluated via an isobolographic analysis. Caramiphen and lidocaine produced a dose-dependent local anesthetic effect as spinal anesthesia. On a 50% effective dose (ED50) basis, the spinal anesthetic effect of caramiphen was more potent than lidocaine (P < 0.01 for each comparison). Co-administration of caramiphen with lidocaine produced an additive effect. Caramiphen and lidocaine are known to have local anesthetic effects as spinal anesthesia in rats. The spinal anesthetic effects of adding caramiphen to lidocaine are similar to the combinations of other anesthetics with lidocaine.

Currently, about one-third of all women giving birth have a cesarean surgical birth, and the majority are given an epidural or spinal anesthetic containing an opioid for surgery. An unpleasant side effect experienced by many of these women is itching. This article reviews the literature on itching after spinal and epidural administration of opioids and how nurses can best manage this side effect.

Doxepin, a tricyclic antidepressant, was recently found to be effective in the treatment of various acute and chronic painful conditions. However, the mechanism of its actions was not clear, especially when involving the spine. The aim of our study was to evaluate the spinal anesthetic effect of doxepin. Two commonly used traditional local anesthetics, bupivacaine and lidocaine, were used as controls. The potencies and durations of the drugs' action were evaluated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. We found that intrathecally administered doxepin, like bupivacaine and lidocaine, produced dose-related spinal anesthetic effects on motor activity, proprioception, and nociception. Among the three drugs, doxepin produced spinal anesthetic effects in rats more potent than that of lidocaine (p < 0.001, in each comparison) and longer than that of bupivacaine and lidocaine (p < 0.001, in each comparison). The spinal activity of doxepin may provide some explanation of its clinical effect in pain management.

Aim: To assess the safety and efficacy of the use of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women with mixed incontinence, previous failed incontinence surgery or low valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP). Methods: Six hundred and fifty-eight women with SUI underwent the TVT procedure. These included women with mixed stress and urge incontinence (n = 128), previous surgery for SUI (n = 118), low VLPP (n = 80), and those over 70 years old (n = 68). The procedure was carried out under spinal anesthetic and operative and immediate postoperative data was collected for all women. Six-month follow-up data was available on 454 women, with the first 300 women completing a quality of life (QOL) questionnaire before and after surgery. Results: The overall subjective cure rate at 6 months was 91%, with 8% of women reporting significant (>50%) improvement in their symptoms. Subgroups with a body mass index > 30, age > 70 years, coexisting instability, previous failed surgery, and low VLPP showed cure rates of 81–89%. QOL improvements for all groups were highly significant. Significant complications included voiding difficulties in 29 women (4.4%), retropubic hematomas in four (0.6%), and thromboembolic episodes in three (0.5%). Conclusion: The simplicity and high efficacy of the TVT makes it the first choice for the treatment of women with SUI, including those with more complex problems or coexisting risk factors.

Spinal 2-chloroprocaine is being investigated as an alternative short-acting spinal anesthetic to replace lidocaine for outpatient surgery. Adding dextrose increases the baricity of solutions and alters the characteristics of spinal anesthesia. In this study, we compared 2-chloroprocaine spinal anesthesia performed with or without the addition of dextrose (1.1%). Eight volunteers underwent 2 spinal anesthetics, receiving 40 mg 2-chloroprocaine (2 mL, 2%) with 0.25 mL saline with one and 0.25 mL 10% dextrose with the other in a double-blinded, randomized, balanced crossover manner. Pinprick anesthesia, tolerance to transcutaneous electrical stimulation, and tourniquet, motor strength measurements, and time to ambulation and void were assessed. Postvoid residual bladder volume was measured via ultrasound. Spinal anesthesia was successful in all subjects and regressed within 110 (80-110) min. There was no significant difference in peak height T4 (T7-C6), time to achieve peak block height (14 +/- 6 min), time for 2-segment regression (44 +/- 9 min), regression to L1 (66 +/- 12 min), tolerance of tourniquet (43 +/- 9 min), or return of motor function (81 +/- 14 min). Mean postvoid residual volume was larger with dextrose (74 +/- 67 mL versus 16 +/- 35 mL; P = 0.02). No subject reported signs of transient neurologic symptoms (TNS). In conclusion, spinal 2-chloroprocaine provides adequate potency with reliable regression, seemingly without TNS. Adding dextrose does not significantly alter spinal block characteristics but increases residual bladder dysfunction. Therefore, the addition of glucose to 2-chloroprocaine for spinal anesthesia is not necessary.Spinal chloroprocaine provides adequate potency with reliable regression, seemingly without concerns of transient neurologic symptoms, and hence an appealing profile for outpatient surgery. The addition of dextrose does not alter peak block height or tolerance of thigh tourniquet, and increases the degree of residual bladder dysfunction.

In the morning a healthy 40 years old female had a successful spinal anesthetic with bupivacaine 1% 10 mg for hemorrhoidectomy followed by a second injection at midnight for severe pain. The second traumatic injection caused a conus medullaris/cauda equina lesion discovered by MRI 45 days later. The contribution of hyperbaric bupivacaine dosage and pencil point needle is discussed.

By inhibiting sodium channels, local anesthetics (LAs) prevent sodium entering the cell and inhibit cellular depolarization. Although undesired drug reactions caused by LA usage are common, real allergic reactions are rare. The objective of this study was to discuss allergic reactions developing after application of spinal anesthetic.

The very early development of spinal anesthesia is reviewed, beginning with J. Leonard Corning's experience in New York in 1885. August Bier's first spinal anesthetic in Germany in 1899 is explored in depth, as are the contributions of the American physicians Rudolph Matas, F. Dudley Tate and Guido E. Caglieri.

A 25-yr-old obese parturient with mild asthma underwent an uneventful spinal anesthetic for primary cesarean delivery. Within 4 h after delivery, the patient twice developed acute shortness of breath, inspiratory stridor, and hypoxemia that required intubation. A battery of blood tests revealed no evidence of an allergic reaction. She had a normal echocardiogram and chest computed tomography, but her neck computed tomography showed an enlarged left thyroid lobe asymmetrically compressing the endotracheal tube cuff. We hypothesized that, after delivery, decreased maternal vascular capacitance increased central venous pressure such that venous engorgement of an undiagnosed goiter may have caused symptomatic tracheal compression.

Background and ObjectivesThe quality of analgesia and subsequent morphine requirements following spinal anesthetic block (SAB) or combined sciatic and femoral (3-in-1) block (SFB) for total knee arthroplasty were compared.MethodsThe 39 patients studied were randomly assigned to receive either SAB (n = 19) or SFB (n = 20). All patients received a standardized general anesthetic, patient-controlled analgesia, and regular diclofenac. Visual analog pain scores and morphine requirements were recorded for 48 hours following surgery. Observations were grouped into four 12-hour periods. Pain scores (0-10 cm) were expressed as 95% confidence intervals; the criterion for analgesic success was a confidence interval in the range 0-3 cm.ResultsAlthough pain-free on awakening, the SAB patients failed to achieve analgesic success in any of the four periods, while the SFB patients did so in three of the four periods. Morphine consumption was significantly higher in the SAB group during the first two periods but similar to the SFB group thereafter.ConclusionIn comparison with SAB, SFB resulted in superior analgesia and reduced morphine consumption for the first 24 hours following total knee arthroplasty.

A S MY WIFE (an ophthalmologist) is always eager to point out, the major discoveries in anesthesia were made by surgeons. Although debatable in the general field of anesthesiology, the initial utilization of local anesthetics is certainly attributable to surgeons. The first documented use of local anesthesia for surgery was made by Carl Koller on September 11, 1884, when he demonstrated ocular surface anesthesia with the application of cocaine and performed an operation for glaucoma. (August Bier, a German surgeon, performed the first spinal anesthetic in 1899, also with cocaine. He also described the first postdural puncture headache immediately afterward.) By November 1884, the ophthalmologist C.S. Bull had reported on his use of cocaine as a topical anesthetic for surgery on the cornea and conjunctiva for 150 cases. Over the next 100 years and leading to today, the uses and types of local anesthetics have grown enormously, as has our understanding of the mechanism of action of this class of drug. As practitioners utilizing these agents, the safe and effective use depends on our understanding of the pharmacology, specific uses, and toxicity of the various local anesthetics available today.

To determine the necessary mean infusion rate of propofol during combined nitrous oxide (NTwelve elective gynecological patients were monitored by a Dräger pEEG monitor under NThe mean (SD) induction dose of propofol was 2.9 (0.4) mg·kgTitration of propofol infusion using SEF during combined general and spinal anesthesia provided a rapid recovery without any clinical signs of inadequate anesthesia.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of anesthetic techniques used during general anesthesia (GA) and spinal anesthesia (SA) on endothelial adhesion molecules in the fetal circulation of healthy parturients undergoing elective cesarean section. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to either the general anesthesia (n = 20) or spinal anesthesia (n = 20) group. Maternal and cord blood neopterin, sE-selectin, and sL-selectin levels were measured in both groups. Results: Cord blood neopterin concentrations in the SA group were not different from those in the GA group, but mater nal neopterin levels in the SA group were different from those in the GA group. Maternal blood levels of sE-selectin and sL-selectin were not different between the two groups. Similarly, the cord blood levels of sE-selectin and sL-selectin were not different between the two groups. We found an increased inflammatory process in the fetal circulation depending on the anesthetic method used. Conclusions: These results indicate the effects of general and spinal anesthetic techniques on serum sL-selectin, sEselectin, and neopterin levels in neonates and parturients undergoing elective cesarean section. sE-selectin and neopterin concentrations and leukocyte counts were higher in the fetal circulation than in the maternal circulation during both GA and SA. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2014; 66: 364-370)

Performing a spinal anesthetic is a crucial skill not only for anesthesiologists, but also for physiatrists, neurosurgical residents, and occasionally emergency department physicians. Currently, residents are introduced to this technique in the operation theater on real patients. By providing this introductory resource on spinal anesthesia before residents embarks into clinical work, we hope to increase patient safety, patient comfort, procedure success rate, and the quality of the management of common complications. Participants learn how to place a spinal anesthetic in a simulated environment (with video assistance) before they advance to real patients. Thanks to the improved technical skill of the participants, they will be able to provide safer and better anesthetic care. With the provided teaching materials, their knowledge and management of common and less common complications will be improved. Also, understanding how spinal drug distribution and its implication for the anesthesiologist depends on baricity will improve through the viewing of the created video material.