Clinical effects of epidural block during labour : a prospective study
| dc.contributor.author | Nel, J. T. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2011-03-18T14:59:42Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2011-03-18T14:59:42Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1985-09 | |
| dc.description | Article | |
| dc.description | The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za | |
| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of epidural block for pain relief during labour in an obstetric unit which manages mainly high-risk pregnancies. In the majority of the 62 patients studied only 5 ml of a 0,5% solution of bupivacaine was sufficient for effective pain relief. In 75% of patients total pain relief was obtained. complications of the procedure were hypotension in 32% of patients and bladder atony needing catheterization in 19%. The mean fall in blood pressure was greater in patiens with pre-existing hypertension. The incidence of instrumental delivery was 40%, inadequate bearing- down effort being the indication in 54% of these cases. An abnormal fetal heart rate pattern on cardiotocography developed in 13 of 58 fetuses who were monitored internally, while in 3 cases an abnormal pattern became even more abnormal (in one-third of these cases this followed hypotension in the mother). The only statistically significant change in fetal heart rate patterns on cardiotocography was a decrease in the beat-to-beat variability. Epidural block is a very effective form of pain relief during labour but has potentially serious effects, especially in high-risk pregnancies. Precautions to minimize the risk of complications include the administration of intravenous fluid before the procedure and careful monitoring of the patient and her unborn baby. A cardiotocographic monitor is essential for the latter purpose. | |
| dc.description.version | Publisher's version | en_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 4 p. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Nel, J. T. 1985. Clinical effects of epidural block during labour : a prospective study. South African medical journal, 14 September: 371-374. | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2078-5135 (online) 0256-9574 (print) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/7994 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_ZA | |
| dc.publisher | Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG) | |
| dc.rights.holder | The author | |
| dc.subject | Peridural anesthesia | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Labor (Obstetrics) | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Clinical effects of epidural block during labour : a prospective study | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Article |
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