[Airway management for anaesthesia performed at the end of labour: survey of practices].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the airway management during general anaesthesia performed at the end of labour.


METHODS
Observational retrospective study in a French university obstetrical unit.


METHODS
All parturients who underwent general anaesthesia for manual removal of the placenta or instrumental delivery were included. Demographic data, anaesthesia management, indication and duration of anaesthesia were recorded. Incidents as vomiting, a drop in oxygen saturation of five points or more, aspiration and difficult endotracheal intubation were investigated.


RESULTS
Among 111 parturients with inclusion criteria, the rate of tracheal intubation was 5%. The duration of anaesthesia ranged from five to 60 minutes (mean duration: 16 min). No incident was recorded within the methodological limits of this retrospective study.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a major discrepancy between guidelines and clinical practice in our unit concerning systematic tracheal intubation during general anaesthesia performed at the end of labour. A national survey is in process to confirm these results.
Zieleskiewicz
L
L
Service d'anesthésie et de réanimation, faculté de médecine de Marseille, hôpital Nord, AP-HM, chemin des Bourrely, Marseille cedex 20, France.
Bellefleur
J-P
JP
Antonini
F
F
Ortega
D
D
Leone
M
M
Martin
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000777:Anesthetics; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
D000777:Anesthetics