Epidural analgesia in early labour blocks the stress response but uterine contractions remain unchanged

• Published in: Canadian journal of anesthesia Vol. 45; no. 7; pp. 626 - 630
• Main Authors: SCULL, T. J, HEMMINGS, G. T, CARLI, F, WEEKS, S. K, MAZZA, L, ZINGG, H. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Toronto, ON Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society 01.07.1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Analgesia, Epidural; Analgesia, Obstetrical; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; beta-Endorphin - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Labor, Obstetric - physiology; Local anesthesia. Pain (treatment); Medical sciences; Oxytocin - blood; Pain; Pain Measurement; Plasma; Pregnancy; Stress response; Stress, Physiological - physiopathology; Uterine Contraction - drug effects; Uterine Contraction - physiology; Peptide hormone; Labour; Glucose; Hydrocortisone; Glucocorticoid; Neuropeptide; Bupivacaine; Pain; Uterus; Female genital system; Neurohypophyseal hormone; Female; Anilide; Human; Oxytocin; Steroid hormone; β-Endorphin; Muscle contraction; Obstetrics; Stress; Local anesthetic; Analgesia; Lactates; Treatment; Extradural administration; Adrenal hormone; Delivery
• ISSN: 0832-610X; 1496-8975
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03012090

To determine the effect of epidural analgesia on biochemical markers of stress, plasma oxytocin concentrations and frequency of uterine contractions during the first stage of labour. Nine nulliparous women, in spontaneous labour, with a singleton fetus and cervical dilatation < or = 5 cm were enrolled. Epidural bupivacaine 0.25% (range 10-14 ml) was administered and bilateral sensory blockade to ice (T8-L4) achieved. Blood samples were collected before the epidermal block and every 10 min for one hour after the block was achieved for the measurement of plasma beta-endorphin, cortical, glucose, lactate and oxytocin concentrations. No exogenous oxytocin was given. Intensity of pain was assessed at the time of the blood sampling using a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS). The frequency of uterine contractions was recorded for 60 min before and after the epidural block. There was a decrease in plasma beta-endorphin and cortisol concentrations after epidural block (P < 0.01). There were no changes in plasma glucose and lactate concentrations. The mean VAS for pain decreased 10 min after epidural block was achieved and remained < 2 throughout the study period (P < 0.001). Mean plasma oxytocin concentrations did not change. The frequency of uterine contractions before and after the epidural block was similar. The metabolic stress response to the pain of labour was attenuated by epidural analgesia. In contrast, plasma oxytocin concentration and frequency of uterine contractions were unaffected by the attenuation of metabolic stress response.