Epidural Local Anesthetics: A Novel Treatment for Fetal Growth Retardation?

• Published in: Fetal diagnosis and therapy Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 208 - 213
• Main Authors: Strümper, D., Louwen, F., Durieux, M.E., Gramke, H.F., Stuessel, J., Marcus-Soekarman, D., van Aken, H., Marcus, M.A.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.05.2005; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adult; Amniotic Fluid - metabolism; Anesthesia, Epidural; Anesthetics, Local - therapeutic use; Arteries - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Birth Weight; Bupivacaine - therapeutic use; Cesarean Section; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation - complications; Fetal Growth Retardation - drug therapy; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hormonal contraception; Humans; Medical sciences; Oligohydramnios - complications; Oligohydramnios - metabolism; Pilot Projects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Pulse; Time Factors; Uterus - blood supply; Intrauterine growth restriction; Epidural; Local anesthetics; Intrauterine growth retardation; Pregnancy disorders; Growth retardation; Local anesthetic; Extradural; Prenatal; Fetal diseases; Treatment; Extradural administration; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 1015-3837; 1421-9964
• DOI: 10.1159/000083907

Background: Chronically compromised uterine perfusion may lead to placental insufficiency and subsequent intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Various therapeutic approaches (e.g. vasodilators, low-dose aspirin, intravenous glucose infusion, and hemodilution) are often of limited efficacy. Local anesthetics have been shown to improve placental blood flow in pre-eclamptic women. We hypothesized that epidural administration of local anesthetics might improve outcome in IUGR independent of the underlying cause. In preparation for a clinical trial to test this hypothesis, we performed a pilot study in 10 patients. Methods: After approval of the study protocol, 10 pregnant women presenting with oligohydramnios and IUGR were included in the study. In addition to our standard protocol (magnesium, glucose, betamethasone), each patient received an epidural catheter (T10/T12) with continuous infusion of bupivacaine 0.175% at a rate of 5 ml/h. Uteroplacental circulation was monitored by Doppler sonography and the amount of amniotic fluid was estimated daily. Results: Epidural insertion and infusion was performed without complications. Four patients continued to deteriorate rapidly, amniotic fluid volume did not change and uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) tended to increase. In the remaining 6 patients the clinical status stabilized, amniotic fluid volume tended to increase and uterine artery PI tended to decrease during treatment. This improvement was associated with a prolonged interval to cesarean section and increased infant birth weight. Conclusion: Our data suggest that, even if the underlying cause of IUGR is not pre-eclampsia, epidural local anesthetic administration might improve placental blood flow and be beneficial in a subgroup of patients. A clinical trial to test this hypothesis appears warranted.