Neuraxial Labor Analgesia Research Articles

Anesthesiologists' Preferences regarding Visitor Presence during Placement of Neuraxial Labor Analgesia.

Introduction Neuraxial labor analgesia has become an integral part of modern obstetric anesthetic practice. Presence of a familiar person during its placement may be beneficial to the patient. A survey was sent to anesthesiologists practicing obstetric anesthesia in the USA to determine their views. Methods The survey queried the following: existence of a written policy; would they allow a visitor; visitor's view, sitting or standing; reasons to allow or not allow a visitor; and influence by other staff on the decision. The responses were analyzed using multiple chi-square analyses. Results Most practitioners supported allowing a visitor during placement. Reduction of patient anxiety and fulfillment of patient request were the major reasons for allowing a visitor. Sitting position and no view of the workspace were preferred. Visitor interference and safety were cited as the major reasons for precluding a visitor. Nonanesthesia providers rarely influenced the decision. Epidural analgesia was the preferred technique. Essentially no bias was found in the responses; there was statistical uniformity regardless of procedures done per week, years in practice, professional certification, geographic region (rural, urban, or suburban), or academic, private, or government responders. Conclusion The practice of visitor presence during the placement of neuraxial labor analgesia is gaining acceptance.

Neuraxial techniques of labour analgesia.

In recent years, many neuraxial techniques have been introduced to initiate and maintain labour analgesia, with low-dose mixtures of local anaesthetics and opioids, which have improved the quality of analgesia and made it safer for both mother and neonate. An independent search of the databases of PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane controlled trial data was conducted by two researchers, and randomized controlled trials that compared different methods of neuraxial analgesia and the different techniques of maintaining labor analgesia were retrieved and analyzed. The advantages, disadvantages, and indications of each technique along with the doses of intrathecal and epidural drugs are discussed. The myths and controversies involving neuraxial labor analgesia and the current consensus on their effect on the maternal and foetal outcomes are also outlined.

Neuraxial Labor Analgesia: Does It Influence the Outcomes of Labor?

(Anesth Analg. 2017;124(5):1389–1391) In this editorial, Cynthia A. Wong, MD, discussed the issue of neuraxial labor analgesia and its effect on the outcomes (mode of delivery, duration) of labor. In general, there are conflicting reports regarding the effect of neuraxial labor analgesia on the mode of delivery.

The Labor Analgesia Requirements in Nulliparous Women Randomized to Epidural Catheter Placement in a High or Low Intervertebral Space.

We hypothesized that an epidural catheter placed in a lower vertebral interspace will require less medication for labor analgesia. Nulliparous women requesting neuraxial labor analgesia were randomized to epidural catheter placement at the ultrasound-confirmed L1-2 or L4-5 interspace. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia and breakthrough manual epidural boluses of 10 mL of 0.125% bupivacaine with 50 µg of fentanyl or 8 mL of 2% lidocaine were utilized. Abdominal and perineal pain scores were assessed at 30 and 60 minutes after standardized initiation of epidural analgesia. Pain scores during pushing were assessed after delivery. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients requiring manual boluses and was compared using a χ test. Secondarily, we analyzed the number of boluses given in early (up to 4 hours before delivery) versus late labor using χ tests and the pain scores using Mann-Whitney U tests, with adjustment of P values for multiple testing. We analyzed 148 patients. Overall, the percentage of patients in the low versus high groups who required manual boluses was 46% vs 51% (P = 1.0). For the 56 patients in each group who delivered vaginally, 22 (52%) vs 20 (48%) manual boluses were given to the low epidural group in early versus late labor, compared to 9 (20%) vs 36 (80%) in the high epidural group (P = .014). There was no statistical difference in patient-controlled epidural analgesia requirements or patient satisfaction. Comparing the low versus high groups, the median (interquartile range) pain scores were: 3 (1, 6) vs 0 (0, 2) (P = .013) at 30 minutes and 1 (1, 3) vs 0 (0, 1) (P = .013) at 60 minutes for abdominal pain; 0 (0, 2) vs 1 (1, 3) (P = .36) and 0 (0, 1) vs 1 (1, 3) (P = .014) at these same time points for perineal pain; and 1 (0, 5) vs 0 (0, 3) (P = .9) for abdominal and 2 (0, 5) vs 4 (1, 8) (P = .025) for perineal pain during pushing. The percentage of patients who underwent instrumental delivery was 15% vs 5% (P = .06) for the low versus high group. An L4-5 epidural catheter initially provides less relief of abdominal pain but more relief of perineal labor pain. Patients with an L4-5 catheter require more manual boluses during early labor but less during late labor. The possible association of low epidural catheters with instrumental delivery merits further investigation.

Maternal Pulse Pressure and the Risk of Postepidural Complications: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

To test the hypothesis that increasing the intravenous fluid bolus volume at the time of epidural placement in women with narrow pulse pressure would reduce postepidural fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities, hypotension, and resuscitative obstetric interventions. We performed a single-center randomized controlled trial. Eligible participants were normotensive with a nonanomalous singleton gestation at or after 35 weeks and with a narrow pulse pressure (less than 45 mm Hg) on admission. Enrolled patients remained eligible for randomization at epidural request if they were within 6 hours of admission and the FHR remained category 1. Patients were allocated to a 500-mL (institutional standard) or 1,500-mL intravenous fluid bolus at epidural placement. A reference group with admission pulse pressure 50 mm Hg or greater was also evaluated. The primary outcome was a category 2 or 3 FHR pattern within 60 minutes after the epidural test dose. Evaluated secondary outcomes included maternal hypotension and composite resuscitative interventions to correct FHR abnormalities or hypotension. We calculated that 276 women (138/group) would provide 80% power to detect a relative 50% reduction in the occurrence of the primary outcome from 27% in the 500-mL group to 13.5% in the 1,500-mL group (two-sided α=0.05). From October 2015 to November 2016, 276 women were allocated to receive a 500-mL (n=139) or 1,500-mL (n=137) fluid bolus. One hundred thirty-eight women were evaluated in the reference group. Demographic, obstetric, and labor characteristics were similar between groups. The 1,500-mL group had significantly fewer postepidural FHR abnormalities (38.0% compared with 51.8%, relative risk 0.73, 95% CI 0.56-0.96, P=.02). Maternal systolic hypotension (10.2% compared with 34.5%, relative risk 0.30, 95% CI 0.17-0.51, P<.001) and composite postepidural interventions (18.3% compared with 44.2%, relative risk 0.42, 95% CI 0.28-0.62, P<.001) were also less frequent in the 1,500-mL group. Fetal heart rate abnormalities remained significantly less frequent in the reference group than among women with a narrow pulse pressure on admission for delivery. A 1,500-mL intravenous fluid bolus in women with a narrow pulse pressure decreases the risk of postepidural FHR abnormalities (number needed to treat=7), results in less frequent postepidural hypotension, and reduces the need for resuscitative interventions. Admission pulse pressure may be used to individualize intrapartum fluid management at the time of initiation of neuraxial labor analgesia. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02565485.

Epidural Labor Analgesia-Fentanyl Dose and Breastfeeding Success: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Breastfeeding is an important public health concern. High cumulative doses of epidural fentanyl administered for labor analgesia have been reported to be associated with early termination of breastfeeding. We tested the hypothesis that breastfeeding success is adversely influenced by the cumulative epidural fentanyl dose administered for labor analgesia. The study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of parous women at greater than 38 weeks gestation who planned to breastfeed, had successfully breastfed a prior infant, and who received neuraxial labor analgesia. Participants were randomized to receive one of three epidural maintenance solutions for labor analgesia (bupivacaine 1 mg/ml, bupivacaine 0.8 mg/ml with fentanyl 1 μg/ml, or bupivacaine 0.625 mg/ml with fentanyl 2 μg/ml). The primary outcome was the proportion of women breastfeeding at 6 weeks postpartum. Maternal and umbilical venous blood fentanyl and bupivacaine concentration at delivery were measured. A total of 345 women were randomized and 305 had complete data for analysis. The frequency of breastfeeding at 6 weeks was 97, 98, and 94% in the groups receiving epidural fentanyl 0, 1, and 2 μg/ml, respectively (P = 0.34). The cumulative fentanyl dose (difference: 37 μg [95% CI of the difference, -58 to 79 μg], P = 0.28) and maternal and umbilical cord venous fentanyl and bupivacaine concentrations did not differ between women who discontinued breastfeeding and those who were still breastfeeding at 6 weeks postpartum. Labor epidural solutions containing fentanyl concentrations as high as 2 μg/ml do not appear to influence breastfeeding rates at 6 weeks postpartum.

Socioeconomic Deprivation and Utilization of Anesthetic Care During Pregnancy and Delivery: A Secondary Analysis of a French Prospective, Multicenter, Cohort Study.

Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with reduced use of antenatal resources and poor maternal outcomes with pregnancy. Research examining the association between socioeconomic deprivation and use of obstetric anesthesia care in a country providing universal health coverage is scarce. We hypothesized that in a country providing universal health coverage, France, socioeconomic deprivation is not associated with reduced use of anesthetic care during pregnancy and delivery. This study aimed to examine the association between socioeconomic deprivation and (1) completion of a mandatory preanesthetic evaluation during pregnancy and (2) use of neuraxial analgesia during labor. Data were from a cohort of 10,419 women who delivered between 2010 and 2011 in 4 public teaching hospitals in Paris. We used a deprivation index that included 4 criteria: social isolation, poor housing condition, no work-related household income, and state-funded health care insurance. Socioeconomic deprivation was defined as a deprivation index greater than 1. Preanesthetic evaluation was considered completed if performed more than 48 hours before delivery. The association between socioeconomic deprivation and completion of the preanesthetic evaluation and use of neuraxial labor analgesia was assessed by multivariable logistic regression adjusting for education level, country of birth, and maternal and pregnancy characteristics. Preanesthetic evaluation was completed for 8142 of the 8624 women (94.4%) analyzed and neuraxial labor analgesia was used by 6258 of the 6834 women analyzed (91.6%). After adjustment, socioeconomic deprivation was associated with reduced probability of completed preanesthetic evaluation (adjusted odds ratio 0.88 [95% confidence interval, 0.79-0.98]; P = .027) but not use of neuraxial labor analgesia (adjusted odds ratio 0.97 [95% confidence interval, 0.87-1.07]; P = .540). In a country providing universal health care coverage, women who were socioeconomically deprived showed reduced completion of preanesthetic evaluation during pregnancy but not reduced use of neuraxial labor analgesia. Interventions should be targeted to socioeconomically deprived women to increase the completion of the preanesthetic evaluation.

Central neuraxial analgesia for labor: an update of the literature.

Numerous techniques are in use to provide analgesia for labor, of which central neuraxial block is widely considered superior to non-neuraxial options. Central neuraxial techniques have evolved over many years to provide greater efficacy, safety and maternal satisfaction. This narrative review focuses on the literature relating to central neuraxial labor analgesia from the past 5years, from November 2010 to October 2015. We discuss the evidence related to the various central neuraxial techniques used, the increasingly widespread use of ultrasound guidance and the evidence surrounding other novel methods of central neuraxial block insertion. The timing of institution of central neuraxial analgesia in labor is considered, as are the advances in maintenance regimens for labor analgesia.

Risk factors for peripheral nerve injuries following neuraxial labour analgesia: a nested case-control study.

Post-partum lower extremity motor and sensory dysfunctions occur in 0.1-9.2‰ of deliveries. While macrosomia, lithotomy position and forceps use are well-identified causes of peripheral nerve injuries, additional contributors such as patient condition and anaesthesia care may also have to be considered. We performed a case-control study nested in a cohort of 19,840 patients having neuraxial anaesthesia for childbirth. Cases were all patients who developed motor or sensory dysfunction of lower extremities in the post-partum period. These were compared, using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, logistic regression and time series, to a random sample of controls without any neurological symptoms or injury. We identified 19 (0.96‰) patients with peripheral nerve injuries of which 15 (0.76‰) were likely associated with obstetrical care. In four additional cases (0.20‰), a nerve root injury due to the Tuohy needle was suspected. Univariate risk factors were: a gestational age ≥41weeks, Odds Ratio (OR) 3.8; 95% CI: 1.1-13.1, late initiation of neuraxial anaesthesia OR 8.2; 95% CI: 1.8-37.9, a repeated anaesthetic procedure OR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.0-7.8, assisted delivery with forceps OR 9.8; 95% CI: 1.2-114.1 and newborn birth weight >3.5kg with an OR 6.8; 95% CI: 2.0-22.5. Obstetrical related factors are the most prominent risk associated with peripheral nerve injuries. This study highlights however that patient and anaesthesia-related factors may also contribute to peripheral nerve injuries.

Modern Neuraxial Anesthesia for Labor and Delivery.

The availability of safe, effective analgesia during labor has become an expectation for women in most of the developed world over the past two or three decades. More than 60% of women in the United States now receive some kind of neuraxial procedure during labor. This article is a brief review of the advantages and techniques of neuraxial labor analgesia along with the recent advances and controversies in the field of labor analgesia. For the most part, we have aimed the discussion at the non-anesthesiologist to give other practitioners a sense of the state of the art and science of labor analgesia in the second decade of the 21st century.

Increasing Regional Anesthesia Use in a Serbian Teaching Hospital through an International Collaboration.

Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) report low rates of regional anesthesia (RA) use for cesarean delivery (CD), despite its association with lower maternal major morbidity and mortality. Also, the prevalence of neuraxial analgesia for labor (NAL) is often low in LMICs. We report on the results of a collaboration in clinical education over a multi-year period between Kybele Inc., an international non-profit organization, and Klinicki Centar Vojvodine (CCV), a teaching hospital in Novi Sad, Serbia, to increase RA use for CD and NAL at CCV. From late 2011 through 2015, teams from Kybele participated in annual to biannual didactic conferences and week-long bedside teaching efforts involving obstetric and anesthesia staff from CCV and surrounding hospitals. Ongoing contact occurred at least weekly between Kybele and the host to discuss progress. De-identified quality improvement data on total deliveries, numbers of elective and non-elective CDs, number of vaginal deliveries, type of anesthesia for CD, and the number of NALs were collected. RA use for CD increased to 25% in year 2015 versus 14% in base year 2011 [odds ratio (OR): 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.73,2.42; p < 0.001]. NAL increased to 10.5% of laboring women in 2015 versus 1.2% in 2011 (OR: 9.6; 95% CI: 7.2, 12.8; p < 0.001). Greater increases for RA use during non-elective CD were observed between 2011 and 2015 (1.4 versus 7.5% of total CD; OR: 5.52; 95% CI: 2.63, 8.41; p < 0.001) relative to elective CD (12.5 versus 17.5% of total CD; OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.23, 1.77; p < 0.001). Overall, RA for CD increased during the 4 year collaboration but was not as great as reported in other countries with similar health-care demographics utilizing a similar program. Detailed descriptions of program interventions and barriers to change at CCV are presented.

Racial and ethnic disparities in obstetric anesthesia

Racial and ethnic disparities are prevalent within healthcare and have persisted despite advances in medicine and public health. Disparities have been described in the use of neuraxial labor analgesia, with minority women being less likely to use neuraxial labor analgesia than non-minority white women. Minority women are also more likely to have a general anesthetic for cesarean delivery than non-minority women. The origins of these disparities are likely multi-factorial, with patient-, provider-, and systems-level contributors. The purpose of this article is to give an overview of disparities in obstetric anesthesia.

Neuraxial labor analgesia is not an independent predictor of perineal lacerations after vaginal delivery of patients with intrauterine fetal demise

IntroductionThe role of neuraxial labor analgesia in perineal trauma following live births is controversial, and no studies have assessed the association in women delivering an intrauterine fetal demise. We evaluated the relationship between neuraxial labor analgesia and perineal laceration in these patients. MethodsThis was a retrospective case-control study of women with a diagnosis of fetal death after 20weeks of gestation, a vaginal delivery, and an Apgar score of 0 at delivery, during the period from January 2007 through December 2015. The presence of a perineal laceration and its severity, graded from grade I to IV based on the 2014 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines, was recorded. ResultsA total of 329/422 (78%) patients received neuraxial, and 93/422 (22%) non-neuraxial, labor analgesia. A perineal laceration occurred in 23% in the neuraxial versus 10% in the non-neuraxial analgesia group, a difference of 13% (95% CI of difference 4% to 20%, P=0.005). After adjusting for confounder bias, greater birthweight (OR 4.22, 95% CI 3.00 to 5.92, P<0.001) and lower parity (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.82, P=0.009), but not neuraxial analgesia (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.47 to 3.57, P=0.61) were independent predictors of perineal laceration. The maintenance concentration of bupivacaine did not affect the rate of perineal injury. ConclusionsNeuraxial labor analgesia does not appear to be an independent risk for a perineal laceration in patients with intrauterine fetal demise. Our data suggests that the use of neuraxial analgesia should not raise concern about increased rates of perineal injury.

Does Nitrous Oxide Labor Analgesia Influence the Pattern of Neuraxial Analgesia Usage? An Impact Study at an Academic Medical Center

(J Clin Anesth. 2016;35:54–57) During labor and delivery, there are many options available for pain relief, and the inhalation of nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of the methods that is gaining popularity in the United States. However, the effect of N2O availability on the utilization patterns of other forms of labor analgesia such as neuraxial labor analgesia (especially in large American hospital settings) has not been studied. The objective of this study was to examine how the use of N2O during labor and delivery would influence the pattern of neuraxial labor analgesia.

Patients' preferences for labor analgesic counseling: A qualitative analysis.

The decision to use, or not use, neuraxial labor analgesia is complex, with both maternal and fetal considerations. Fears and concerns about neuraxial analgesia may influence analgesic decision-making. Little is known about patients' preferences for analgesic counseling. Therefore, the objectives of this qualitative study were to evaluate the sources of information used by patients, the timing and content of antepartum counseling about labor analgesia, and patients' preferences for such counseling. A semi-structured interview guide was developed. Survey domains included the sources of information used by patients, the timing and content of antenatal counseling, patients' perceptions of intrapartum analgesic counseling, and their preferences for analgesic counseling. Interviews occured on postpartum day 1. Interview transcripts were analyzed using content analysis. The interviews of 45 women were analyzed. The Internet was the most frequently mentioned source of information (44%). The majority of women (78%) discussed analgesic options with their obstetric providers before delivery. All women were counseled intrapartum by an anesthesiologist, but several women commented on the difficulty of concentrating while laboring. Seventy-three percent of women stated that they would want counseling on analgesic options from their obstetric provider during the second or third trimester. Women prefer to be counseled about labor analgesia by their obstetric providers, as they have an established relationship. Patients would prefer the counseling to occur during pregnancy, before the onset of labor. However, given the frequent use of the Internet, the content and quality of online materials should also be evaluated.

A Survey of Intravenous Remifentanil Use for Labor Analgesia at Academic Medical Centers in the United States.

Remifentanil is most commonly offered when neuraxial labor analgesia is contraindicated. There is no consensus regarding the optimal administration, dosing strategy, or requirements for maternal monitoring, which may pose a patient safety issue. This exploratory survey evaluated the current practices regarding remifentanil use for labor analgesia at academic centers in the United States. Of 126 obstetric anesthesia directors surveyed, 84 (67%) responded. In 2014 to 2015, an estimated 36% (95% confidence interval: 25.7-46.3) of centers used remifentanil, most of which did so less than 5 times. Some serious maternal and neonatal respiratory complications occurred, emphasizing that clinical protocols and adequate monitoring are key to ensure maternal and neonatal safety.

Any news on the postdural puncture headache front?

Unintentional dural puncture followed by postdural puncture headache is a well-known complication following neuraxial labor analgesia. Risk factors for the development of postdural puncture headache may be related to the patient's history and characteristics, the neuraxial technique, and obstetrical events. The diagnosis of postdural puncture headache is usually made depending on the clinical presentation (orthostatic headache after a neuraxial procedure). Occasionally, neuroimaging and neurological consultation are warranted. Complications following postdural puncture headache may include transient or permanent hypoacusis, cranial nerve palsies, subdural hematoma, and chronic headache. Evidence is limited regarding the safety and effectiveness of different interventions aimed to prevent or treat postdural puncture headache.

Nitrous Oxide During Labor: Maternal Satisfaction Does Not Depend Exclusively on Analgesic Effectiveness.

Evidence on the analgesic effectiveness of nitrous oxide for labor pain is limited. Even fewer studies have looked at patient satisfaction. Although nitrous oxide appears less effective than neuraxial analgesia, it is unclear whether labor analgesic effectiveness is the most important factor in patient satisfaction. We sought to compare the relationship between analgesic effectiveness and patient satisfaction with analgesia in women who delivered vaginally using nitrous oxide, neuraxial analgesia (epidural or combined spinal-epidural [CSE]), or both (neuraxial after a trial of nitrous oxide). A standardized survey was recorded on the first postpartum day for all women who received anesthetic care for labor and delivery. Data were queried for women who delivered vaginally with nitrous oxide and/or neuraxial labor analgesia over a 34-month period in 2011 to 2014. Parturients with complete data for analgesia quality and patient satisfaction were included. Analgesia and satisfaction scores were grouped into 8 to 10 high, 5 to 7 intermediate, and 0 to 4 low. These scores were compared with the use of ordinal logistic regression across 3 groups: nitrous oxide alone, epidural or CSE alone, or nitrous oxide followed by neuraxial (epidural or CSE) analgesia. A total of 6507 women received anesthesia care and delivered vaginally. Complete data were available for 6242 (96%) women; 5261 (81%) chose neuraxial analgesia and 1246 (19%) chose nitrous oxide. Of the latter, 753 (60%) went on to deliver with nitrous oxide alone, and 493 (40%) switched to neuraxial analgesia. Most parturients who received neuraxial analgesia (>90%) reported high analgesic effectiveness. Those who used nitrous oxide alone experienced variable analgesic effectiveness, with only one-half reporting high effectiveness. Among all women who reported poor analgesia effectiveness (0-4; n = 257), those who received nitrous oxide alone were more likely to report high satisfaction (8-10) than women who received epidural analgesia alone (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.4-4.5; P = .002). Women who reported moderate analgesia (5-7) and received nitrous oxide only were more likely to report high satisfaction compared with the other groups. Among women who reported a high level of analgesic effectiveness, satisfaction with anesthesia was high and not different among groups. Patients who received nitrous oxide alone were as likely to express satisfaction with anesthesia care as those who received neuraxial analgesia, even though they were less likely to report excellent analgesia. Although pain relief contributes to the satisfaction with labor analgesia care, our results suggest that analgesia is not the only contributor to maternal satisfaction.

Increasing body mass index predicts increasing difficulty, failure rate, and time to discovery of failure of epidural anesthesia in laboring patients

Study objectiveObese parturients both greatly benefit from neuraxial techniques, and may represent a technical challenge to obstetric anesthesiologists. Several studies address the topic of obesity and neuraxial analgesia in general, but few offer well described definitions or rates of “difficulty” and “failure” of labor epidural analgesia. Providing those definitions, we hypothesized that increasing body mass index (BMI) is associated with negative outcomes in both categories and increased time needed for epidural placement. DesignSingle center retrospective chart review. SettingLabor and Delivery Unit of an inner city academic teaching hospital. Patients2485 parturients, ASA status 2 to 4, receiving labor epidural analgesia for anticipated vaginal delivery. InterventionsNone. MeasurementsWe reviewed quality assurance and anesthesia records over a 12-month period. “Failure” was defined as either inadequate analgesia or a positive test dose, requiring replacement, and/or when the anesthesia record stated they failed. “Difficulty” was defined as six or more needle redirections or a note indicating difficulty in the anesthesia record. Main resultsOverall epidural failure and difficulty rates were 4.3% and 3.0%, respectively. Patients with a BMI of 30kg/m2 or higher had a higher chance of both failure and difficulty with two and almost three fold increases, respectively. Regression analysis indicated that failure was best predicted by BMI and less provider training while difficulty was best predicted by BMI. Additionally, increased BMI was associated with increased time of discovery of epidural catheter failure. ConclusionsObesity is associated with increasing technical difficulty and failure of neuraxial analgesia for labor. Practitioners should consider allotting extra time for obese parturients in order to manage potential problems.

Impact of neuraxial labor analgesia on neonatal outcomes

Impact of neuraxial labor analgesia on neonatal outcomes