Spontaneous subcapsular hepatic hematoma in pregnant patients

Spontaneous subcapsular hepatic hematoma (SSHH) with or without previous history of preeclampsia and/or HELLP syndrome represents a very rare pathological condition in pregnancy and postpartum, (1/45,000-1/225,000 pregnancies). Its importance for the anesthesiologist lays in its association with high morbidity and mortality for the mother (60-86%, 39%) and newborn (42%). After a high clinical suspicion, the certainty clinical diagnosis is settled by different imaging techniques. However, in most cases the diagnosis of SSHH is a casual intraoperative finding associated to a maternal or foetal compromise. Nowadays the obstetric and anaesthetic management of a SSHH is not standardized and depends on its integrity, hemodynamic stability and the gestational period when diagnosed. The possibility of an acute critic haemorrhage with necessity of massive transfusion, makes advisable to provide updated protocols for the treatment of obstetric hemorrhage, adapting them to the clinical peculiarities of these patients. After the acute phase, close attention should be kept on thromboembolic complications.

Plasma colloid osmotic pressure in preeclampsia. Review of the Mexican literature 1997-2018

En México, la presión coloidosmótica del plasma ha sido un tema clave del estudio de la mujer embarazada por más de dos décadas. Las investigaciones clínicas han permitido conocer sus valores en población abierta, mujeres con embarazo normal, puerperio fisiológico, preeclampsia severa, síndrome HELLP y eclampsia. También se ha reportado la relación de la presión coloidosmótica del plasma con la presión sanguínea (índice de Briones), síndrome de fuga capilar y la acumulación de líquido en cavidades serosas (derrame pleural, ascitis). Revisamos la base de datos PubMed, The Cochrane Library, OVID, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Artemisa, LILACS e IMBIOMED de 1997 a 2018 con las siguientes palabras clave: albúmina sérica, presión coloidosmótica del plasma, síndrome de fuga capilar, índice de Briones, derrame pleural, ascitis, preeclampsia severa, síndrome HELLP, eclampsia y cuidados críticos en obstetricia. Los criterios de inclusión fueron revisiones sistemáticas, meta-análisis, ensayos clínicos controlados y artículos con metodología de medicina basada en evidencia con recomendaciones sólidas. Incluimos 12 artículos mexicanos. Los objetivos de la presente investigación fueron: revisar la literatura médica de la presión coloidosmótica del plasma en preeclampsia reportada de 1997 a 2018, describir el tratamiento con albúmina humana y las perspectivas de la investigación en los siguientes años.

In Mexico, plasma colloid osmotic pressure has been a key issue in the study of pregnant women for more than two decades. Clinical investigations have allowed to know their values in the open population, as well as in women with normal pregnancy, physiological puerperium, severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and eclampsia. The relationship of plasma colloid osmotic pressure with mean arterial pressure (Briones index), capillary leak syndrome and the accumulation of fluid in serous cavities (pleural effusion, and ascites) have also been reported. We reviewed the database of PubMed, The Cochrane Library, OVID, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Artemisa, LILACS, and IMBIOMED from 1997 to 2018 with the following keywords: serum albumin, plasma colloid osmotic pressure, capillary leak syndrome, Briones index, pleural effusion, ascites, severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, eclampsia, and obstetrics critical care. Inclusion criteria were systematic reviews, meta-analysis, clinical controlled trials, and articles with evidence-based medicine methodology with strong recommendations. We included 12 Mexican articles. The objectives of the present investigation were to review the medical literature on plasma colloid osmotic pressure in preeclampsia reported from 1997 to 2018, describe the treatment with human albumin and the perspectives of the research in the following years.

Ruptured hepatic hematoma managed with a Sengstaken-Blakemore probe in severe preeclampsia with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP) syndrome

We report the case of a 34-year-old woman with a 32-week pregnancy complicated by recurrent severe preeclampsia, HELLP Class I syndrome, and an intact hepatic hematoma of the right lobe detected by ultrasound. During the cesarean section, the rupture of the hematoma occurred and a gastroesophageal probe of the Sengstaken-Blakemore type was placed to occlude the bleeding cavity and the exit tunnel. The balloons were deflated gradually and the probe was removed on the 10^th day without complications. The Sengstaken-Blakemore probe can be an effective remedy to control liver bleeding in selected cases.

[HELLP Syndrome: clinical-analytical characteristics and evolution observed in two years of experience]

INTRODUCTION

HELLP syndrome (H: hemolysis, EL: elevated liver enzymes and LP: low platelets) is a form of severe preeclampsia (PE). The syndrome can be: complete or incomplete (with three analytical criteria, or only one or two); Class i, ii or iii (according platelets < 50,000; 50,000-100,000 or > 100,000/mm³); postpartum or antepartum; with early or late installation (before or after the 34nd week of gestation). We describe and analyze characteristics and evolution observed in hypertensive pregnant patients who developed HELLP.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective cohort with observation period of two years. It included pregnant hypertensive women who developed HELLP, during the course of their hospitalization in the maternity hospital of our tertiary care hospital.

RESULTS

It included 318 hypertensive pregnant women. We observed 28 HELLP. Maternal age was 25.8 ±7.2 years and gestational age at diagnosis 31 ± 1 week. Hypertension was chronic in 4 and gestational in 24; eight had presented PE in the previous pregnancy. There were 10 complete and 18 incomplete syndromes; according to platelet disease there were 3 Class i, 16 Class ii and 9 Class iii. HELLP was postpartum in 3 and antepartum in 25: 18 early and 7 late. There were 17 patients who required intensive care and 10 developed complications linked to HELLP. No maternal deaths were recorded.

CONCLUSION

Presentation was variable, exhibiting mostly in gestational hypertension, antepartum and early. Incomplete form and class II thrombocytopenia were more frequent. Maternal complications were frequent but no deaths were observed.

[Anesthesia in pregnant women with HELLP syndrome: case report]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

HELLP syndrome, characterized by hemolysis, high levels of liver enzyme, and low platelet count, is an advanced clinical stage of pre-eclampsia, progressing to high maternal (24%) and perinatal (up 40%) mortality, despite childbirth care in a timely manner. The goal is to describe the anesthetic management of a case with indication to emergency caesarean.

CASE REPORT

Female patient, 36 years old, gestational age of 24 weeks, with hypertensive crisis (BP 180/100 mmHg) and severe headache, was admitted to the operating room for a cesarean section after diagnosis of HELLP syndrome. Indicated for general anesthesia, we opted for total intravenous with intubation after rapid sequence induction with propofol and remifentanil in continuous target-controlled infusion, and rocuronium at a dose of 1.2 mg/kg. Maintenance was achieved with propofol and remifentanil. The surgical procedure was uneventful, the child was born with APGAR 1/5 and transferred to the NICU. At the end of surgery, the patient was extubated in the operating room and taken to the ICU. The postoperative period was uneventful with no changes worthy of note and the patient was discharged on the sixth postoperative day.

CONCLUSION

When general anesthesia is the choice in parturient with HELLP syndrome, tracheal intubation with rapid sequence induction due to possible difficult airway, as well as the use of drugs to control the hemodynamic response can minimize the complications associated with the procedure, as occurred in this case.

Anesthesia in pregnant women with HELLP syndrome: case report

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

HELLP syndrome, characterized by hemolysis, high levels of liver enzyme, and low platelet count, is an advanced clinical stage of pre-eclampsia, progressing to high maternal (24%) and perinatal (up 40%) mortality, despite childbirth care in a timely manner. The goal is to describe the anesthetic management of a case with indication to emergency cesarean.

CASE REPORT

Female patient, 36 years old, gestational age of 24 weeks, with hypertensive crisis (BP 180/100mmHg) and severe headache, was admitted to the operating room for a cesarean section after diagnosis of HELLP syndrome. Indicated for general anesthesia, we opted for total intravenous with intubation after rapid sequence induction with propofol and remifentanil in continuous target-controlled infusion, and rocuronium at a dose of 1.2mg/kg. Maintenance was achieved with propofol and remifentanil. The surgical procedure was uneventful, the child was born with APGAR 1/5 and transferred to the NICU. At the end of surgery, the patient was extubated in the operating room and taken to the ICU. The postoperative period was uneventful with no changes worthy of note and the patient was discharged on the sixth postoperative day.

CONCLUSION

When general anesthesia is the choice in parturient with HELLP syndrome, tracheal intubation with rapid sequence induction due to possible difficult airway, as well as the use of drugs to control the hemodynamic response can minimize the complications associated with the procedure, as occurred in this case.