Abstract. Obstetric analgesia was accomplished by segmental continuous blockade in 225 women. the technique involved automatic pump infusion of 0.25 per cent bupivacaine solution into the epidural space at a rate of 5 ml per hour after initial doses of 2 and 5 ml bupivacaine. If the analgesia was insufficient one or two single injections of 5 ml of bupivacaine were added. Statistical evaluation of the results could be carried out for 218 women, 158 of whom were nulliparae and 60 multiparae. Fully satisfactory analgesia was achieved in 96 per cent of the nulliparae and 88 per cent of the multiparae in the first stage of labor. in the second stage of labor 46 per cent of the mothers were given pudendal blockade to maintain satisfactory analgesia. The positioning of the patient in the first stage of labor from supine to semirecumbent was of importance to spread the analgesic agent caudally, to the sacral nerve roots, and to control the pain due to stretching of the vagina and perineum. in the total material 17 per cent of the neonates were delivered by vacuum extraction. When the infusion into the epidural space was started in early labor, the incidence of vacuum extraction was 9 per cent, as compared with 38 per cent when it was started at 6 cm cervical dilatation or later (p:<0.01). 9.8 per cent of the neonates were delivered by cesarean section. Fetal head malposition occurred in 8.7 per cent. a drop in blood pressure was noted in 7 per cent of the women. the condition of the newborn was unaffected by the analgesia. the mini‐infusion system minimized the risk for infection. the danger in case of accidental intravascular injection was reduced, due to slowly administered bupivacaine. At the maternity department this technique has created a positive attitude towards epidural blockade, as mid‐wives and doctors have found it safe and easy.
Two groups, each consisting of 20 parturients, were given a continuous infusion of 0.25 per cent bupivacaine into the epidural space for pain relief, after test and loading doses. The analgesic effect was registered during labor. After delivery the course of the catheters in the epidural space was investigated radiologically. In the first group
Mini-infusion of 0.25 per cent bupivacaine plain into the epidural space was used in 16 healthy women for pain relief during labor. After a loading dose, continuous administration was ensured by using an automatic pump at an infusion rate of 5 or 8 ml per hour.Maternal venous blood concentrations of bupivacaine were determined 20, 40, and 60 minutes after the loading dose. Further samples were taken hourly until delivery. Fetal blood concentrations were determined from fetal scalp blood during mini-infusion, and from umbilical venous blood at delivery. Maternal blood levels averaged 206 ng/ml. The maximum concentration (604 ng/ml) did not exceed 30 per cent of the toxic level. The blood concentration of bupivacaine did not tend to increase during the course of continuous infusion. Tachyphylaxis could not be detected statistically. The fetal blood concentration during blockade averaged 58 ng/ml, giving a feto-maternal ratio of 0.28. The neonatal-maternal ratio, calculated from the umbilical venous blood, was 0.32. With a shift of the acid-base status towards acidosis in the neonate, the ratio of bupivacaine slightly increased. Absence of maternal hypotension as well as absence of fetal heart irregularities during infusion may be attributed to the low and stable blood concentration of bupivacaine. The mean Apgar score was 9.5 at one minute and 9.9 at five minutes. The maternal arterial acid-base balance at delivery was normal. The fetal acid-base status at delivery showed wide variation, without any relation to the Apgar score or the total dose of bupivacaine. It is concluded that continuous mini-infusion of bupivacaine by means of an automatic pump has advantages over intermittent administration.
Abstract. A detailed study on a modified technique of epidural analgesia (EDA) for pain relief in obstetrics has been performed. the aim of the modifications was to reduce the number of instrumental deliveries and at the same time to make the delivery a s smooth a s possible for the baby. This was achieved by the use of an anaesthetic with a favourable ratio between neonatal and maternal plasma levels (Bupivacaine) in low concentration (0.25 %). a special technique of injection enabled us to limit the extent of the blockade. An epidural catheter was inserted between L2 and L3 and moved upwards 20 cm into the epidural space. 8‐10 rnl of the solution was then injected after a test dose. the blockade was continued by the repeated injection of smaller doses. As judged by the skin anaesthetic zones and by obstetric examinations, the patient was gradually positioned, during labour, from supine to half‐sitting. the catheter was withdrawn at the end ofthc first stage of labour so that the lower sacral segments could be blocked. a group of 100 patients treated with the technique described was followed. the number of instrumental deliveries in the present series (15%) was significantly lower than in similar series reported in the literature. the group of 100 patients treated with modified EDA was also compared with 100 control patients who received only conventional treatment without EDA. There were no differences in the number of abnormal presentations. while the number of caesarean sections and cases of atonic post‐partum bleeding was insignificantly lower in the EDA group. the difference in the number of instrumental deliveries–although somewhat higher in the EDA group‐was not statistically significant. the total length of labour was prolonged in the EDA group but EDA was not necessarily responsible for this undesired effect. The clinical status of the babies was found to be better after EDA than in the control group, asjudged from Apgar score. Furthermore. fetal bradycardia was significantly reduced with EDA. It is concluded that EDA. a s used in this study, not only is a preferable way of achieving pain relief in the mother but also offers a means of facilitating the birth process for the infant. reducing the incidence of pre‐ and post‐natal asphyxia.
A detailed study on a modified technique of epidural analgesia (EDA) for pain relief in obstetrics has been performed. The aim of the modifications was to reduce the number of instrumental deliveries and at the same time to make the delivery as smooth as possible for the baby. This was achieved by the use of an anaesthetic with a favourable ratio between neonatal and maternal plasma levels (Bupivacaine) in low concentration (0.25 %). A special technique of injection enabled us to limit the extent of the blockade. An epidural catheter was inserted between L2 and L3 and moved upwards 20 cm into the epidural space. 8-10 ml of the solution was then injected after a test dose. The blockade was continued by the repeated injection of smaller doses. As judged by the skin anaesthetic zones and by obstetric examinations, the patient was gradually positioned, during labour, from supine to half-sitting. The catheter was withdrawn at the end of the first stage of labour so that the lower sacral segments could be blocked. A group of 100 patients treated with the technique described was followed. The number of instrumental deliveries in the present series (15%) was significantly lower than in similar series reported in the literature. The group of 100 patients treated with modified EDA was also compared with 100 control patients who received only conventional treatment without EDA. There were no differences in the number of abnormal presentations, while the number of caesarean sections and cases of atonic post-partum bleeding was insignificantly lower in the EDA group. The difference in the number of instrumental deliverie-lthough somewhat higher in the EDA group-was not statistically significant. The total length of labour was prolonged in the EDA group but EDA was not necessarily responsible for this undesired effect. The clinical status of the babies was found to be better after EDA than in the control group, as judged from Apgar score. Furthermore, fetal bradycardia was significantly reduced with EDA. It is concluded that EDA, as used in this study, not only is a preferable way of achieving pain relief in the mother but also offers a means of facilitating the birth process for the infant, reducing the incidence of pre-and post-natal asphyxia.
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