ABSTRACT
The aims of this randomised double-blind study were to investigate whether 25 micrograms of fentanyl administered prophylactically by the epidural route would influence the incidence of shivering in parturients who underwent elective Caesarean section under epidural analgesia and whether it would affect the axillary and calf temperatures. There was a 50% reduction (p less than 0.05) in the overall incidence of shivering in patients who received fentanyl and there was some evidence to suggest that low-dose epidural fentanyl might reduce shivering by an influence on thermoregulation.
Subject(s)
Analgesia, Epidural , Analgesia, Obstetrical , Cesarean Section , Fentanyl/pharmacology , Shivering/drug effects , Adolescent , Adult , Double-Blind Method , Female , Fentanyl/administration & dosage , Humans , Injections, Epidural , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Skin Temperature/drug effectsSubject(s)
Fetal Distress/diagnosis , Electrocardiography , Fetal Heart , Fetal Monitoring , Heart Rate , HumansABSTRACT
Pregnancy-associated admissions to the Intensive Care Unit during the first 5 years of a newly established teaching hospital obstetric unit are reviewed. There were 23 such admissions; in the same period, 21,983 deliveries occurred. The most frequent cause for Intensive Care admission was hypertensive disease of pregnancy. Most patients required admission for less than 48 hours. Two patients died during the period of study.
