Neuraxial analgesia in a parturient with the VACTERL association undergoing labor and vaginal delivery / Analgesia neuraxial em uma parturiente com síndrome de Vacterl em trabalho de parto normal

Abstract Introduction: The term VACTERL is an acronym for an association of congenital malformations: including vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheo-esophageal, renal and limb anomalies. VACTERL anomalies pose a formidable challenge to anesthesiologists. We describe the anesthetic management of a parturient with VACTERL association, who underwent neuraxial analgesia for labor and vaginal delivery. Case report: A 23 year old primigravida at 39 weeks gestation presented in labor at 4 cm cervical dilatation, completely effaced, requesting labor analgesia. Past medical history included VACTERL association with an imperforate anus and a partial endocardial cushion defect, both repaired in early childhood. She also had significant dorso-lumbar scoliosis with an extra lumbar vertebra. An MRI performed at 14 years age revealed the above findings with no spinal cord abnormalities. With a normal neurologic exam, a combined spinal epidural technique was performed. Despite significant scoliosis, the epidural space was identified at approximately the L3-L4 interspace at a depth of 5 cm. Spinal Fentanyl 25 mcg was administered followed by continuous patient-controlled epidural analgesia. The patient experienced excellent pain relief throughout her labor, and had an uneventful vaginal delivery 5 h after epidural placement. Discussion: The rarity of VACTERL association in the obstetric population with its extensive anomalies mandates a multidisciplinary approach in the prenatal period as it can pose major challenges to all health care providers, including airway, ventilatory, cardiac and neuraxial problems. This is the first reported case of a successful and safe neuraxial technique in a laboring patient with the VACTERL association with albeit limited vertebral and spinal cord anomalies.

Resumo Introdução: O termo Vacterl é um acrônimo para uma associação de malformacões congênitas que inclui anomalias vertebral, anal, cardíaca, traqueal, esofágica, renal e dos membros (Limbs em inglês). As anomalias Vacterl representam um enorme desafio para os anestesiologistas. Descrevemos o manejo anestésico de uma parturiente com síndrome de Vacterl submetida à analgesia neuraxial para parto normal. Relato de caso: Paciente primípara, 23 anos, 39 semanas de gestação, apresentava em trabalho de parto 4 cm de dilatação cervical, apagamento completo, exigiu analgesia de parto. A história médica incluía síndrome de Vacterl com ânus imperfurado e defeito parcial do coxim endocárdico, ambos corrigidos na primeira infância. A paciente também apresentava escoliose dorso-lombar acentuada com uma vértebra lombar adicional. Uma RM feita aos 14 anos revelou os achados mencionados acima sem anormalidades na medula espinhal. Com um exame neurológico normal, a técnica anestésica combinada raquiperidural (CRP) foi usada. Apesar de escoliose significativa, o espaço peridural foi identificado próximo ao interespaço L3-L4 a uma profundidade de 5 cm. Fentanyl (25 mcg) foi administrado por via espinhal, seguido de analgesia peridural contínua controlada pela paciente. A paciente sentiu grande alívio da dor durante todo o trabalho de parto; o parto vaginal ocorreu 5 horas após a anestesia CRP sem intercorrências. Discussão: A raridade da síndrome de Vacterl na população obstétrica com suas extensas anomalias exige uma abordagem multidisciplinar no pré-natal porque pode representar grandes desafios para todos os prestadores de cuidados de saúde, inclusive problemas respiratórios, de ventilação, cardíacos e do neuroeixo. Este é o primeiro caso relatado de uma técnica neuraxial bem-sucedida e segura em uma paciente em trabalho de parto com síndrome de Vacterl, embora com anomalias limitadas da coluna vertebral e medula espinhal.

Comparison of Obstetric Pain, Anxiety, and Cervical Dilatation between Epidural Analgesia and No Analgesia group during Labor Stage I

PURPOSE: This research was done to compare obstetric pain, anxiety and cervical dilatation between an epidural analgesia group and a control group. METHODS: Participants were assigned to the experimental or control group depending on their decisions for pain relief. Subjective / objective obstetric pain, anxiety level and cervical dilatation were measured and ANOVA was used for comparison of groups and paired t-test to make pre-post comparisons. RESULTS: Homogeneity of pain, anxiety and cervical dilatation were assessed at the latent phase. Cervical dilatation was larger in the control group than the experimental group, at both the active and the transitional phase (F=22.9, p<.001; F=39.9, p<.001 respectively). The degree of pain and anxiety were not significantly different between the groups. Within the experimental group, subjective / objective pain and anxiety level were significantly lower postanalgesia compared to pre-analgesia in the active phase. All variables, except for sweating in the objective pain measurement, changed significantly at the transient phase. CONCLUSION: The results of this evidence-based research indicate that epidural analgesia while effective in relieving pain and anxiety may have an adverse effect on the cervix during labor stage I. Epidural analgesia should be used carefully during cervical dilatation in labor stage I.