(Int J Obstet Anesth. 2020;41:83–103)
Both epidural (EP) and combined spinal-epidural (CSE) techniques are used to establish effective labor analgesia. Over time, the latter has gained popularity due to faster onset of pain relief and superior sacral nerve coverage. The addition of opioids in neuraxial labor analgesia allows for lower concentrations of local anesthetic and a longer duration of the analgesic effect. However, opioids also impart risk for additional side effects including pruritus, sedation, nausea, vomiting, hypotension, and fetal heart rate pattern disturbances. This study was designed to analyze how individual and combined routes of neuraxial opioid administration impact the incidence of maternal and fetal side effects.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.