Combatting myths and misinformation about obstetric anesthesia

Evidence Mounts Refuting an Association Between Epidural Use and Neurodevelopmental Adverse Outcomes in Children

“…3 In response, anesthesia researchers have invested considerable time and effort to assuage these claims. 3 A recent population-based study of 147 895 live births in Kaiser Permanente Southern California hospitals reported that epidural pain relief is associated with a 37% increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring. 4 However, residual confounding likely explains these findings, as a subsequent population-based study of 123 175 live births in Manitoba, Canada, did not confirm this association after accounting for a larger set of confounders.…”

“…2 Despite its popularity, flawed or misleading research has linked epidural pain relief to several unfavorable perinatal and postnatal outcomes, such as an increased risk of cesarean delivery or longterm back pain. 3 In response, anesthesia researchers have invested considerable time and effort to assuage these claims. 3 A recent population-based study of 147 895 live births in Kaiser Permanente Southern California hospitals reported that epidural pain relief is associated with a 37% increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring.…”

“…In 2015, nearly 3 out of 4 US women used epidural pain relief during labor . Despite its popularity, flawed or misleading research has linked epidural pain relief to several unfavorable perinatal and postnatal outcomes, such as an increased risk of cesarean delivery or long-term back pain . In response, anesthesia researchers have invested considerable time and effort to assuage these claims …”

“…Furthermore, in the post hoc propensity score analyses examining confounding by indication, there was no information for the clinical indications for epidural pain relief. Third, there is substantial evidence disproving a link between epidural pain relief and an increased risk of cesarean delivery; therefore, the appropriateness of the mediation analysis is questionable. Fourth, the validity, accuracy, and reliability of the measures used to classify the neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 2 years are not known.…”