Segmental Epidural Analgesia Research Articles

Posterior Füzyon Cerrahisi Sonrası Preemptif Segmental Epidural Levobupivakain Uygulaması ve Yara Yeri İnfiltrasyonu: Vaka Serisi

Objective: The current study aimed to provide intraoperative smooth wake-up test and postoperative effective analgesia by segmental epidural analgesia and wound infiltration in patients undergoing posterior fusion surgery. Material and Methods: Fifteen ASA I-II adolescent patients aged 11-16 undergoing posterior fusion and instrumentation were included to the study. After general anesthesia with standard intravenous anesthesia, epidural catheter was inserted to all patients in lateral decubitus position. Following confirmation of the place of the catheter under scopy, initially 3-4 ml of prepared mixture was administered from the catheter and then the catheter was retracted and during retraction, 1-2 mL of the mixture was given to each segment. Neuromonitorization was achieved with motor evoked potential (MEP). Postoperative pain was evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS). Paracetamol infusion and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory analgesics were given for routine postoperative pain management. Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with morphine was prepared to be given in case of VAS score higher than 40. Results: In all patients effective analgesia was achieved for postoperative 24 hours. No side effects and hemodynamic impairment were observed. The highest pain scores were obtained at the postoperative 12th hour and during movement. There was no requirement for morphine patient controlled anesthesia (PCA) as VAS values were lower than 40. The sleep quality of patients and the patient satisfaction were very good in all patients. Conclusion: Segmental epidural analgesia with a preoperatively placed epidural catheter and wound infiltration is a simple and reliable method for effective pain control in posterior fusion and instrumentation surgery in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Neuroaxial anaesthesia in obstetrical patients with cardiac disease

Pregnancy and the peripartum period represent a physiological burden for the cardiac patient that can worsen even moderate degrees of cardiac disease. Valvular stenotic diseases, congenital cardiac disease, and coronary insufficiency are relatively frequent in pregnant patients. Since considerable variability exists in the cardiovascular changes and responses to labour among different cardiac diseases and their functional status, recommendations for anaesthetic management are based on reported clinical experience and pathophysiological concepts. Neuroaxial blockade reduces or even abolishes the cardiovascular stress response to pain, mitigates Valsalva effects by decreasing the pushing reflex, and allows the adaptation of analgesia or anaesthesia to labour stage and delivery. Sympathetic blockade caused by standard neuroaxial techniques, however, reduces systemic vascular resistance and cardiac preload followed by reflex tachycardia. Recent development of neuroaxial techniques with spinal opiates for the first stage of labour, carefully titrated segmental epidural analgesia with opiates combined with low concentrations of local anaesthetic for the second stage, and even low spinal anaesthesia for vaginal instrumental delivery, have all been used with good results in patients with severe cardiac disease. Only Tetralogy of Fallot, primary pulmonary hypertension, idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, and anticoagulation are considered relative or absolute contraindications for neuroaxial techniques, though slow segmental blockade of dermatomes may offer an alternative. For Caesarean section, single shot spinal anaesthesia is not recommended in moderate or severe heart disease. Adequate cardiovascular invasive monitoring is essential and should be administered and maintained in the postpartum period with the same criteria that reduce morbidity and mortality in cardiac patients undergoing general surgery.

Allergic Reaction to an Amide Local Anesthetic in Segmental Epidural Analgesia

Erkkola, R.; Kanto, J.; Mäenpää, J.; Kero, P.; Hovi-Viander, M.; Viander, M. Author Information

The effect of segmental epidural analgesia on the neurobehavioural responses of newborn infants.

The effects of maternal segmental epidural analgesia on neonatal neurobehavioural responses were studied at the ages of 3 h, 1 day, 2 days and 4-5 days. Subjects were healthy, term neonates born vaginally to 14 mothers with an epidural block and to 15 mothers without analgesia. The only statistically significant differences were found at the age of 1 day, when the epidural group infants habituated and oriented better to inanimate auditory stimuli. It is concluded that segmental epidural analgesia with a low dose of bupivacaine can be regarded as being a safe obstetric analgesic method as regards neonatal behavioural responses.

Effect of Segmental Epidural Analgesia on Changes in Peripheral Blood Leucocyte Counts, Lymphocyte Subpopulations, and in vitro Transformation in Healthy Parturients and Their Newborns

Changes in the peripheral blood leucocyte count, lymphocyte subpopulations, and in 'in vitro' responses of lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin and tuberculin after induced labour were investigated in 10 normal parturients and their newborns. Every other parturient was given segmental epidural analgesia at level T 10-12 for pain relief during the first stage of labour. The remaining mothers served as controls. The results of blood samples taken from the mothers before induction of labour and from the newborns immediately after delivery served as basal values against which the results of samples drawn on the 1st and on the 5th day following delivery were compared. A significant (p less than 0.05) increase from the basal values in the total leucocyte count after delivery was found only in those mothers not given epidural analgesia and in their newborns. Similarly, a significant (p less than 0.01) decrease in the T cell count characterized by both E rosette formation and acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase staining was found in the peripheral blood only in the mothers (but not the newborns) without epidural analgesia. The differences between the research groups were not, however, significant. The lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin on the 1st and on the 5th day after delivery was also significantly (p less than 0.05) lower in the newborns of the mothers not given epidural analgesia than in those of the mothers given it. The present results show that the depression induced by the stress of parturition in some parameters of cell-mediated immunity of mothers and newborns can be at least partly prevented by using segmental epidural analgesia.

Effect of segmental epidural analgesia on neonatal serum bilirubin concentration and incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Neonatal serum bilirubin levels were determined at the ages of 12 hrs, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days and 5 days in 80 infants. Forty-three mothers had received segmental epidural analgesia at the height of Th 10-12 for pain relief during the first stage of labor. The analgesic agent used was 0.5% bupivacaine. The individual doses were of 4 ml. Thirty-seven mothers served as a control group. The groups were further divided into smaller groups according to whether oxytocin was used for induction or acceleration of labor--or not. The results showed no statistically significant differences in the neonatal serum bilirubin levels at different times between the epidural and the control groups, whether oxytocin was used or not. Nor did the incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia cases differ between the groups.

Subarachnoid Block After a “Top-Up” Dose During Continuous Segmental Epidural Analgesia During Labour—A Case Report

Subarachnoid Block After a “Top-Up” Dose During Continuous Segmental Epidural Analgesia During Labour—A Case Report

The effect of maternal, labor, and fetal factors upon fetal heart rate during the intrapartum period

The effect of maternal, labor, and fetal characteristics upon fetal heart rate behavior during the intrapartum period has been studied in 400 patients. Abnormal labor in comparison to normal labor has a higher baseline fetal heart rate with an increased incidence of baseline tachycardia and an increased incidence of absent or decreased baseline variability. A decreasing fetal weight gestational age percentile is associated with an increased incidence of variable decelerations. Segmental epidural and Demerol analgesia carefully administered has little effect upon fetal heart rate behavior.

Effect of Segmental Epidural Analgesia upon the Uterine Activity with Special Reference to the Use of Different Local Anaesthetic Agents

WILLDECK-LUND, G.; LINDMARK, G.; NILSSON, B. A.; Marx, Gertie F. M.D. Author Information

Segmental Epidural Analgesia in Labour

The effect of low-dose continuous segmental epidural analgesia given during the first stage of labour on the progress of labour, the frequency of fetal malpositions and the rate of vacuum extractions was studied prospectively in 100 parturients (epidural group). The results were compared with 100 parturients given none or conventional analgesia (control group). The results showed that in the primiparous epidural group the progress of labour before analgesia was induced was significantly slower than in the control group. After the block, however, the subsequent course of the labour was of equal duration in both groups. The durations of the second stages of labour did not differ significantly between the groups. The differences in fetal malpositions at delivery were statistically insignificant. Nor did the rate of vacuum extractions, 8% in the primiparous and 0% in the multiparous epidural group, differ statistically from the corresponding rate in the control groups. The results signify a normal progress an...

The effect of segmental epidural analgesia on maternal prolactin during labour.

Maternal plasma prolactin (PRL) concentrations were determined during the course of induced labours in 18 normal parturients. Every second mother was given segmental epidural analgesia for pain relief during the first stage of labour and the remaining parturients served as controls. The maternal PRL level declined during labour in both groups, which contrasts with the increased output seen in nonpregnant patients subjected to stress. The lowest levels were reached during the first stage of labour. The reduction in PRL levels was statistically significant in the control group but not in the epidural group of patients.

Segmental Epidural Analgesia in Labour

Departments of Anaesthesiology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland Acta. Obstet. Gynecol. Scand. 58: 135, 1979

Epidural analgesia and placental blood flow during labour in pregnancies complicated by hypertension.

Placental blood flow was measured during the first stage of labour in pregnancies complicated by essential hypertension or severe pre-eclampsia using a 133Xe clearance technique before and after segmental epidural analgesia. Analgesia was produced with 0.5 per cent plain bupivacaine in six patients with essential hypertension and in 11 patients with severe pre-eclampsia. After segmental epidural analgesia the placental blood flow was slightly but insiginificantly improved in most of the patients with pre-eclampsia and in half of the patients with essential hypertension, thus suggesting this analgesic method to be safe in hypertensive pregnancies in the absence of any substantial change in systemic blood pressure.

Segmental Epidural Analgesia in Labour: Related to the Progress of Labour, Fetal Malposition and Instrumental Delivery

The effect of low-dose continuous segmental epidural analgesia given during the first stage of labour on the progress of labour, the frequency of fetal malpositions and the rate of vacuum extractions was studied prospectively in 100 parturients (epidural group). The results were compared with 100 parturients given none or conventional analgesia (control group). The results showed that in the primiparous epidural group the progress of labour before analgesia was induced was significantly slower than in the control group. After the block, however, the subsequent course of the labour was of equal duration in both groups. The durations of the second stages of labour did not differ significantly between the groups. The differences in fetal malpositions at delivery were statistically insignificant. Nor did the rate of vacuum extractions, 8% in the primiparous and 0% in the multiparous epidural group, differ statistically from the corresponding rate in the control groups. The results signify a normal progress and outcome of labour after low-dose segmental epidural analgesia.

Maternal, foetal and neonatal blood creatine-phosphokinase-activities and creatine-phosphokinase-isoenzymes after labour with and without epidural analgesia and after caesarean section.

Maternal, cord and neonatal blood creatine-phosphokinase (CK) activities and CK-isoenzymes were determined in connection with 24 labours after normal pregnancies. In eight cases there was a normal vaginal delivery; in another eight cases there was a normal vaginal delivery with segmental epidural analgesia; and in the remaining eight cases there was an elective caesarean section under general anaesthesia. The lowest maternal blood CK-activities were seen in connection with caesarean section. There was a statistically significant difference in the maternal CK levels after delivery between cases with caesarean section and normal labour (P less than 0.05) and between cases with caesarean section and labour with segmental epidural analgesia (P less than 0.001). Most of the maternal CK-activity was of muscular type, and there were no statistically significant differences in isoenzyme fractions between the different groups. The neonatal blood CK-activities were at their peak at the age of 1 day in all groups. Between the groups there were no statistically significant differences in cord or neonatal blood CK-activities at any time. Most of the cord and neonatal blood CK-activity was also of muscular type, and there were no significant differences in the CK-isoenzyme fractions between the groups.

Fetal heart rate patterns and uterine activity after segmental epidural analgesia.

The effects of low-dose segmental epidural analgesia on fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns, uterine activity, and some clinical features were examined in a series of 105 normal parturients. The aim of the analgesic technique was to relieve pain during the first stage of labour by blocking the sensory nerve fibres at the spinal level of T 10 to T12, with either 0-5 per cent bupivacaine or bupivacaine with adrenaline 1 : 200 000, the dose varying from 10 to 25 mg. Obvious pathological changes (late decelerations, prolonged fetal bradycardia, variable deceleration, or loss of beat to beat variation) in FHR patterns within the first 30 minutes after the beginning of analgesia were noted in 9 per cent of the patients. Addition of adrenaline to the analgesic agent seemed to reduce uterine activity for 60 minutes after the analgesia and this was reflected in a longer interval between the block and delivery. A 25 per cent fall in systolic blood pressure was recorded in 11 per cent of the patients. Nine patients required vacuum extractions. Our results show that the epidural technique employed has distinct advantages over the previous methods, which require larger doses of the analgesic, agent, and is therefore safer for the fetus; the addition of adrenaline to the analgesic agent is contraindicated.

Selective lumbar epidural block in labour. A clinical analysis.

Segmental epidural analgesia (T10-T12) was performed in 418 parturients, using a 4-6 ml dose of 0.5% bupivacaine, with or without adrenaline. Seventy per cent of parturients were primiparas and 30% had histories, or signs, of possible uteroplacental insufficiency. Our aim was to relieve pain during the long passive opening phase, so that mothers would be rested and active at the beginning of the second phase, but also to avoid abolishing the bearing-down reflex, the absence of which causes an increased frequency of instrumental delivery. The analgesia during the opening phase was of good quality in 89% of primiparas, and 84% of multiparas. The onset of analgesia was rapid (3-5 min) and the duration was on average 2 1/2 h. The incidence of foetal heart rate changes, during the 30 min after epidural, was 5%. The second phase was less than 30 min in about 90% of cases. About 90% of parturients delivered spontaneously, and the frequency of instrument delivery was only 7.4%. Caesarean section was required in 3.7%. Slight, but rapidly correctable, hypotension occurred in 16.5%, and in two cases the hypotension led to more serious complications. This stresses the importance of the availability and competence of both the anaesthetic and obstetric teams. There were no maternal or neonatal mortalities, and the Apgar scores compared well with the figures for the normal material in our obstetric unit.

Cyclic AMP and Segmental Epidural Analgesia During Labour

The blood cyclic AMP level was determined just before, during and after induced labour in 27 healthy women. To achieve complete pain relief during the first stage of labour, 14 of them were given segmental epidural analgesia at the height of Th 10-12. The remaining parturients served as controls. Cyclic AMP was above the normal non-gravid level before induction in both groups. In the control group the cyclic AMP content decreased during the first stage of labour, then it increased and reached a peak at the moment of delivery. These changes were, however, not significant. In the epidural group the cyclic AMP level rose significantly during the first stage, and also reached its peak at the moment of delivery. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups at a cervical dilatation of 6-8 cm. After delivery the cyclic AMP rapidly declined to its initial value in both groups. The possible role of the decreased uterine contractions after the block in the increase of the cyclic AMP is discussed.

Segmental epidural analgesia and urinary excretion of catecholamines during labour.

Urinary excretion of catecholamines was determined separately during the first stage of labour and during the period from the beginning of the second stage until 1/2 h after delivery in 16 healthy mothers, whose labours were induced at term. Seven mothers were given segmental epidural analgesia, at the height of TH10-12, to achieve complete pain relief during the first stages of labour. The remaining parturients served as controls. During the first stage of labour the urinary excretion rate of catecholamines was at the normal nongravid rest level in both groups. During the second stage, and 1/2 h after the delivery, the amount of urinary catecholamines increased significantly in both groups. The latter values corresponded to the amounts of catecholamines excreted during heavy physicial work.

The effect of segmental epidural analgesia on maternal and foetal acid-base balance, lactate, serum potassium and creatine phosphokinase during labour.

Maternal and foetal acid-base balance, PaO2, lactate, potassium and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) were studied during the course of 28 induced labours. Every second mother received segmental epidural analgesia during the first stage of labour (epidural group), while the remaining mothers (who were given pethidine for pain relief, if necessary) acted as a control group. In the epidural group the patients had only minimal changes in acid-base balance and lactate concentration during the first stage. During the second stage lactate concentration increased. In the control group, on the other hand, the acid-base balance showed signs of hyperventilation and lactic acid accumulation during the first stage. The potassium changes were quite minimal and were not significantly different between the groups. The CPK level did not change during labour, but 2 and 4 h after delivery it was significantly elevated in both groups. The foetal acid-base balance, potassium, lactate and PaO2 values revealed no differences between the groups at any time. The CPK level in umbilical venous blood was significantly higher in the epidural group.