Key result
Epidural analgesia with etidocaine and bupivacaine does not change fetal blood flow in normotensive mothers.
Why the study?
Does epidural analgesia with etidocaine and bupivacaine affect fetal blood flow in women undergoing elective caesarean section?
Observational (n=6)
No
Does epidural analgesia with etidocaine and bupivacaine affect fetal blood flow in women undergoing elective caesarean section?
Epidural analgesia with etidocaine and bupivacaine for elective caesarean section does not appear to significantly alter fetal blood flow.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Reassuring for fetal flow in this small series; leaves open generalizability pending larger randomized confirmation.
Fetal blood flow was examined during epidural analgesia in six women with uncomplicated pregnancies undergoing elective caesarean section. A non-invasive, ultrasonic technique was used to measure blood flow in the fetal descending aorta and intra-abdominal part of the umbilical vein before induction of analgesia with etidocaine and bupivacaine and 15 and 30 minutes afterwards. No appreciable change in fetal blood flow was observed.
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Lindblad et al. (1984) conducted an observational in Uncomplicated pregnancies undergoing elective caesarean section (n=6). Epidural analgesia vs. Baseline (before analgesia) was evaluated on Fetal blood flow in the descending aorta and intra-abdominal part of the umbilical vein. Epidural analgesia with etidocaine and bupivacaine did not appreciably change fetal blood flow in the descending aorta and umbilical vein in normotensive mothers.
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