The tocolytic effect of catecholamines in the gravid rat uterus

Effects of neuraxial analgesia technique on labor and maternal-fetal outcomes: a retrospective study

PURPOSE

To compare the effects of epidural analgesia (EA) and combined spinal epidural analgesia (SEA) on labor and maternal-fetal outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified and included 1499 patients with a single cephalic fetus who delivered at the study center from January 2015 to December 2018 and received neuraxial analgesia at the beginning of the active phase of labor (presence of regular painful contractions and cervical dilatation between 4 and 6 cm). Data including analgesia, labor characteristics, and maternal-fetal outcomes were retrieved from the prospectively collected delivery room database and medical records.

RESULTS

SEA was associated with a shorter first stage of labor than EA, with a median difference of 60 min. On multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis, neuraxial analgesia, gestational age, fetal weight, labor induction, and parity were independently associated with the first stage length: patients in the EA group were 1.32 times more likely to have a longer first stage of labor (95% CI 1.06-1.64, p = 0.012) than those in the SEA group. Additionally, a significantly lower incidence of fundal pressure was performed among patients who underwent SEA (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.34-0.9, p = 0.017). No associations were observed between the used neuraxial analgesia technique and other outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

SEA was associated with a shorter length of the first stage of labor and a lower rate of fundal pressure use than EA. Further studies confirming the effects of SEA on labor management and clarifying differences in maternal-fetal outcomes will allow concluding about the superiority of one technique upon the other.

Lower, Variable Intrathecal Opioid Doses, and the Incidence of Prolonged Fetal Heart Rate Decelerations After Combined Spinal Epidural Analgesia for Labor: A Quality Improvement Analysis

Background

Combined spinal-epidurals with low-dose intrathecal opioids and local anesthetics are commonly used to initiate labor analgesia due to the fast onset of analgesia and good patient satisfaction. Intrathecal fentanyl has been associated with fetal bradycardia, and the rate may be higher at doses of 25 mcg and above. As such, our institution limits intrathecal fentanyl doses to less than 15 mcg for labor. Prompted by a few incidents of prolonged fetal bradycardia at even these low doses, we sought to audit the side effects associated with varying low doses of intrathecal fentanyl.

Methods

After IRB approval, a retrospective review was performed on 555 labor records from May–December, 2016. All the patients received combined spinal epidurals for labor analgesia. Intrathecal medication consisted of 1 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine, and varying fentanyl doses: 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 mcg. The incidences of prolonged fetal heart rate decelerations, emergent cesarean delivery, magnitude of pain reduction, pruritus requiring treatment, and hypotension were compared.

Results

Demographic variables were equivalent between the groups. There were no differences in the rates of prolonged fetal decelerations (in order of increasing fentanyl dose: 4.4%, 2.3%, 7.6%, 3.0%, p-value = 0.11), emergent cesarean delivery, magnitude of pain reduction, pruritus, or maternal hypotension.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the rates of prolonged fetal heart rate decelerations after combined spinal epidural with intrathecal bupivacaine and fentanyl does not differ for fentanyl doses of 15 mcg and below.

Duration of labor, delivery mode and maternal and neonatal morbidity after remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia compared with epidural analgesia

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare duration of active labor, delivery mode, maternal and neonatal morbidity and women's satisfaction with delivery after intravenous remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) or standard epidural analgesia (EDA). Based on clinical observations, we hypothesized that women with PCA would have shorter labor.

STUDY DESIGN

An observational study at a university hospital in Sweden 2009-16. Maternal and neonatal outcomes with PCA (n = 69) and EDA (n = 138) were compared.

RESULTS

Women with PCA had shorter active labor 5.6 ± 3.3 compared to 8.5 ± 4.4 h (p < 0.001) with EDA, and a higher rate of spontaneous delivery 94% (65/69) compared to 65% (n = 90/138) with EDA (p < 0.001). Intrapartum temperature >38 °C (p = 0.001) and signs of fetal asphyxia (p < 0.001) were less common with PCA. No maternal or neonatal sedation was observed. The rates of transient oxygen desaturation <95%, bleeding > 1000 mL and women's satisfaction with delivery did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSION

PCA had several advantages over EDA, as it was associated with shorter active labor and a higher rate of spontaneous delivery without worsening maternal or neonatal morbidity or women's satisfaction with delivery. Therefore, we suggest an increased availability of PCA for labor analgesia. We recommend continuous one-to-one care and oxygen saturation monitoring for all women during active labor.

Patient-controlled epidural analgesia for labor – a step forward in Ukrainian obstetrics

Labour pain is recognized by some women as the most severe pain that they have ever felt in their life. Epidural analgesia is an effective method of pain relief in labour and is considered as the gold standard of analgesia for delivery. Traditionally, epidural analgesia in Ukraine is performed without the ability for the patient to control the process of anesthesia. The authors became interested in the delivery of local anesthetics by patient­controlled epidural analgesia instead of the traditional physician methods. In randomized controlled studies there is an evidence that the PCEA method tends to improve the quality of pain relief and increase the patient satisfaction.

Pregnancy-specific anxiety and elective cesarean section in primiparas: A cohort study in China

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between pregnancy-specific anxiety and elective cesarean section, and identify the critical period in which pregnancy-specific anxiety will affect the elective cesarean section. Primiparous women in the 1^st trimester of pregnancy were invited to participate in the cohort. General information on maternal socio-demographic characteristics and environmental exposure were collected using questionnaires. Pregnancy-specific anxiety was assessed by using pregnancy-specific anxiety questionnaire in the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd trimester, respectively. Delivery modes and pregnancy complications were abstracted from medical notes. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was adopted to examine the relationship between pregnancy-specific anxiety and elective cesarean section. Results indicated the overall elective cesarean section rate in this study was 45%. Among 1 874 pregnant women, 30.9% women experienced anxiety at least once during pregnancy, and 6.9% women suffered from anxiety in all three trimesters. Anxiety in the 2^nd trimester was a significant predictor for elective cesarean section. Young maternal age and low educational level had indirect effects on women’s choice of elective caesarean section through affecting pregnancy-specific anxiety. More attention should be paid to maternal psychological problems, and professional counseling needs to be strengthened to protect women from pregnancy-specific anxiety.

Changes in cardiac index during labour analgesia: A double-blind randomised controlled trial of epidural versus combined spinal epidural analgesia - A preliminary study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Combined spinal-epidural (CSE) analgesia for labour and delivery is occasionally associated with foetal bradycardia. Decreases in cardiac index (CI) and/or uterine hypertonia are implicated as possible aetiological factors. No study has evaluated CI changes following combined spinal analgesia for labour and delivery. This prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled trial evaluates haemodynamic trends during CSE and epidural analgesia for labour.

METHODS

Twenty-six parturients at term requesting labour analgesia were randomised to receive either epidural (E) or CSE analgesia. The Electrical Cardiometry Monitor ICON^® was used to continuously determine maternal CI non-invasively, heart rate (HR) and stroke volume at baseline and up to 60 min after initiation of either intrathecal or epidural analgesia. In addition, maternal systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were recorded.

RESULTS

Both SBP and DBP had a similar, significant decrease following initiation of either epidural or CSE analgesia. However, parturients in the CSE group (n = 10) demonstrated a significant decrease in HR and CI compared to the baseline measurements. On the other hand, the parturients in the E (n = 13) group showed no decreases in either maternal HR or CI. Foetal heart changes were observed in four patients following CSE and one patient following an epidural.

CONCLUSION

Labour analgesia with CSE is associated with a significant decrease in HR and CI when compared to labour analgesia with epidural analgesia. Further studies are necessary to determine whether a decrease in CI diminishes placental blood flow.

The effects of hydrotherapy on anxiety, pain, neuroendocrine responses, and contraction dynamics during labor

BACKGROUND

Hydrotherapy (immersion or bathing) is used worldwide to promote relaxation and decrease parturient anxiety and pain in labor, but the psychophysiological effects of this intervention remain obscure.

DESIGN

A pretest-posttest design with repeated measures was used to examine the effects of hydrotherapy on maternal anxiety and pain, neuroendocrine responses, plasma volume shift (PVS), and uterine contractions (CXs) during labor. Correlations among variables were examined at three time points (preimmersion and twice during hydrotherapy).

METHODS

Eleven term women (mean age 24.5 years) in spontaneous labor were immersed to the xiphoid in 37 degrees C water for 1 hr. Blood samples and measures of anxiety and pain were obtained under dry baseline conditions and repeated at 15 and 45 min of hydrotherapy. Uterine contractions were monitored telemetrically.

RESULTS

Hydrotherapy was associated with decreases in anxiety, vasopressin (V), and oxytocin (O) levels at 15 and 45 min (all ps < .05). There were no significant differences between preimmersion and immersion pain or cortisol (C) levels. Pain decreased more for women with high baseline pain than for women with low baseline levels at 15 and 45 min. Cortisol levels decreased twice as much at 15 min of hydrotherapy for women with high baseline pain as for those with low baseline pain. beta-endorphin (betaE) levels increased at 15 min but did not differ between baseline and 45 min. During immersion, CX frequency decreased. A positive PVS at 15 min was correlated with contraction duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydrotherapy during labor affects neuroendocrine responses that modify psychophysiological processes.

Treatment with an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase activity reduces preterm birth and impedes cervical resistance to stretch in pregnant rats

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme catalyzes the methylation of the 2- or 4-hydroxyestrogens to 2- or 4-methoxyestrogens. Both the hydroxyestrogens and methoxyestrogens have been shown to block or enhance the effects of estrogen respectively. Our objective was to investigate the potential role of COMT in parturition and cervical ripening using a rat model. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to detect and localize the COMT protein in rat uterine tissues during pregnancy. We measured the longitudinal changes in urinary 2-hydroxyestrogen before, during, and after pregnancy in rats. Animal studies were conducted to determine the effect of treatment with a selective COMT inhibitor on (1) mifepristone-induced preterm birth and (2) cervical resistance to stretch in pregnant rats. The intensity of staining for the COMT protein differed within the luminal epithelium, uterine gland epithelium, endometrium, and myometrium during pregnancy. Levels of staining for the COMT protein in rat myometrium were highest on day 1 and lowest on days 8 and 13, but high levels returned by days 16 and 19 of pregnancy. The levels of urinary 2-hydroxyestrogen gradually increased in the first 2 weeks of pregnancy, peaked from days 16 to 18 of pregnancy, and then gradually returned to pre-pregnancy levels after delivery. The percentage of pups retained in the uterus of pregnant rats treated with both mifepristone and COMT inhibitor (48 ± 15%) was significantly higher (P< 0.05) when compared with the value of pregnant rats treated with mifepristone alone (12 ± 4%). The resistance to stretch was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in cervical tissues from the pregnant rats treated with COMT inhibitor (0.28) when compared with cervical tissues taken from rats treated with vehicle control (0.18). Modulation of COMT activity may play a role in the regulation of myometrial contractility and cervical ripening during pregnancy.

Neuraxial opioids for labour analgesia: analgesic efficiency and effect on labour

Neuraxial opioids have changed the practice of obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia dramatically. Excellent analgesia with minimal side effects started an era of ever increasing numbers of women who opt for the 'painless birth experience'. Several papers have been reported during 2001 that examine analgesic efficacy, maternal side effects, and effect on foetal well-being of epidural and spinal opioids. Foetal bradycardia following intrathecal opioid analgesia, an increasingly popular technique, has attracted particular attention over the past few years. The present review addresses recently reported work that, according to the author, is key to this field.