Conversion of epidural labour analgesia to epidural anesthesia for intrapartum Cesarean delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of successful conversion of epidural labour analgesia (ELA) to epidural surgical anesthesia (ESA) for intrapartum Cesarean delivery (CD) with identification of potential risk factors for inadequate ESA. Secondary outcomes include a comparison of the management by subspecialist obstetric anesthesiologists (OB) vs. generalist anesthesiologists (GEN), when inadequate ESA was encountered, with an intention of identifying potential interventional strategies to reduce the need for general anesthesia (GA).


METHODS
Health records of all parturients who received ELA and who underwent intrapartum CD during the 3-year period from April 01, 2001 to March 31, 2004 were manually reviewed. Data were analyzed using t test, Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and analysis of variance where appropriate. A P < 0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Eight hundred ninety-nine cases were identified. Four were excluded, as two received continuous spinal labour analgesia and two underwent emergency CD with insufficient time for conversion to ESA. Initially, 86.6% (775/895) of the 895 cases were successfully converted to ESA leaving 120 cases of inadequate ESA, 36 of these were managed by OB and 84 by GEN. Ineffective ELA was identified as a risk factor for unsuccessful conversion. Pulling the epidural catheter back 1 cm was identified as an effective intervention that resulted in the successful conversion in >80% of the 120 cases of inadequate ESA. Spinal anesthesia proved effective in 75% of cases. Both interventions reduced the need for GA to 1.2% for OB and 5.6% for GEN.


CONCLUSIONS
This investigation provides anesthesiologists with strategies to manage inadequate ESA for intrapartum CD that may reduce the need for GA.
Campbell
David C
DC
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine, and Pain Management, University of Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Health Region, Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 0W8. david.campbell@saskatoonhealthregion.ca
Tran
Tony
T
D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002170:Canada; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013038:Specialization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult