Epidural anaesthesia for elective caesarean section does not influence fetal umbilical artery blood flow indices.
This prospective study was completed to determine the influence of epidural anaesthesia on the fetoplacental circulation of normal subjects. Thirty-seven normal pregnant patients at term, undergoing elective Caesarean section, had Doppler measurements of the fetal umbilical artery blood flow velocity before and after epidural anaesthesia using lidocaine 2% without epinephrine. There were no differences in systolic/diastolic, resistance or pulsality indices following epidural anaesthesia. These results suggest that this technique has no adverse effect on fetoplacental circulation in normal non-labouring subjects.
Marquette
G P
GP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Mechas
T
T
Charest
J
J
Rey
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002585:Cesarean Section; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology
D008012:Lidocaine