Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
BackgroundThe introduction of electrohysterography into clinical practice provides new opportunities to study the impact of labour epidural analgesia on uterine contractility because electrohysterography has a greater sensitivity in detecting uterine contractions than external tocodynamometry. We determined the uterine contraction frequency before and after initiation of labour epidural analgesia using an electrohysterography-derived tocogram. MethodsThis prospective study included 23 pregnant women between 36–42 weeks’ gestation with a singleton cephalic presentation who requested epidural analgesia in active labour. The primary study outcome was the difference in mean uterine contraction frequency 60 min before and 120 min after epidural analgesia initiation. The secondary aim was to measure changes in mean contraction frequency over time, using the mean uterine contraction frequency per 10 min, derived from 30-minute averages. ResultsIn the 120 min after epidural analgesia initiation, the average contraction frequency decreased significantly (−0.37 contractions/10 min [95 % CI −0.64 to −0.11]; p = 0.007 compared to the 60 min before epidural analgesia initiation. The largest decrease occurred 60–90 min after epidural analgesia initiation (−0.47 contractions/10 min [95 % CI −0.89 to −0.05]; p = 0.029). ConclusionDuring active labour, electrohysterography identified a statistically significant, although clinically small, reduction in uterine contraction frequency after epidural analgesia initiation. This pilot study demonstrates the potential value of electrohysterography monitoring for obstetric anaesthesia research and might renew interest in the still poorly understood interaction between labour epidural analgesia and uterine activity.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
