Some maternal effects of lumbar epidural analgesia during labour in pre-eclamptic patients

ABSTRACT

The effects of continuous epidural analgesia for labor were studied in 20 women with preeclampsia among those who admitted to El-Shatby University Maternity Hospital. Maternal hemodynamic, renal functions, arterial blood gas findings together with fetal cardiotochography were investigated. Significant reduction of pulse rate and mean blood pressure occurred 2 hours after epidural with insignificant effects on both CFR, RPF and U/PK; however, there was significant increase in the three parameters after delivery. Maternal blood gas analysis showed significant increase in PaO2 and pH, late patterns occurred in three subjects returned to normal beat to beat variation with head up position and oxygen administration. Continuous epidural analgesia was recommended as a useful method for labor in patients with preeclampsia