Prospective Observational Investigation of Capnography and Pulse Oximetry Monitoring After Cesarean Delivery With Intrathecal Morphine

(Anesth Analg. 2019;128:513–522) Neuraxial morphine in low dosages is commonly used to provide high-quality analgesia to women after cesarean delivery. However, postoperative respiratory depression remains a concern, with reported incidences ranging from 0 to 32%. Inadequacy of ventilation and apneas can reliably be detected via capnography but current monitoring relies predominantly on pulse oximetry. No study has evaluated capnography use in women after cesarean delivery. Therefore, in the present study, the authors used capnography to estimate the number of “apnea alert events” (AAEs) in women who underwent cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia that included 150 µg of intrathecal morphine.
Source: Obstetric Anesthesia Digest - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Editor’s Picks Source Type: research