title: Epidural anaesthesia for elective caesarean section does not influence fetal umbilical artery blood flow indices.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: G P
authors: GP
authors: Marquette
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Mechas
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Charest
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Rey
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine