Neuraxial labor analgesia: a literature review / Analgesia de parto no neuroeixo: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract The use of analgesia techniques for labor has become increasingly frequent, with neuraxial techniques being the most commonly used and most effective. Labor pain entails a number of physiological consequences that may be negative for the mother and fetus, and therefore must be treated. This literature review was performed through a search in the PubMed database, from July to November 2016, and included articles in English or Portuguese, published between 2011 and 2016 or anteriorly, if relevant to the topic. The techniques were divided into the following topics: induction (epidural, combined epidural-spinal, continuous spinal, and epidural with dural puncture) and maintenance of analgesia (continuous epidural infusion, patient-controlled epidural analgesia, and intermittent epidural bolus). Epidural analgesia does not alter the incidence of cesarean sections or fetal prognosis, and maternal request is a sufficient indication for its initiation. The combined technique has the advantage of a faster onset of analgesia; however, patients are subject to a higher incidence of pruritus resulting from the intrathecal administration of opioids. Patient-controlled analgesia seems to be an excellent technique, reducing the consumption of local anesthetics, the number of anesthesiologist interventions, and increasing maternal satisfaction.

Resumo O uso de técnicas de analgesia para o trabalho de parto tem se tornado cada vez mais frequente. As técnicas neuroaxiais são as mais comumente usadas e de maior eficácia. A dor do trabalho de parto traz uma série de consequências fisiológicas que podem ser negativas para a mãe e para o feto, e por isso deve ser tratada. Esta revisão de literatura foi feita na base de dados PubMed, de julho a novembro de 2016, e foram incluídos artigos em inglês ou portuguê publicados entre 2011 e 2016, ou mais antigos que fossem relevantes ao tema. As técnicas foram divididas nos tópicos: indução (peridural, raquiperidural combinada, raquianestesia contínua e peridural com punção dural) e manutenção da analgesia (infusão peridural contínua, analgesia peridural controlada pela paciente e bolus peridural intermitente). A analgesia peridural não altera a incidência de cesarianas nem o prognóstico fetal, e o desejo materno é indicação suficiente para seu início. A técnica combinada apresenta como vantagem um início mais rápido da analgesia, entretanto as pacientes estão sujeitas a maior incidência de prurido decorrente da administração intratecal de opioides. A analgesia controlada pela paciente parece ser uma excelente técnica, diminui o consumo de anestésicos locais e o número de intervenções do anestesiologista e aumenta a satisfação materna.

[Neuraxial labor analgesia: a literature review]. / Analgesia de parto no neuroeixo: uma revisão da literatura.

The use of analgesia techniques for labor has become increasingly frequent, with neuraxial techniques being the most commonly used and most effective. Labor pain entails a number of physiological consequences that may be negative for the mother and fetus, and therefore must be treated. This literature review was performed through a search in the PubMed database, from July to November 2016, and included articles in English or Portuguese, published between 2011 and 2016 or anteriorly, if relevant to the topic. The techniques were divided into the following topics: induction (epidural, combined epidural-spinal, continuous spinal, and epidural with dural puncture) and maintenance of analgesia (continuous epidural infusion, patient-controlled epidural analgesia, and intermittent epidural bolus). Epidural analgesia does not alter the incidence of cesarean sections or fetal prognosis, and maternal request is a sufficient indication for its initiation. The combined technique has the advantage of a faster onset of analgesia; however, patients are subject to a higher incidence of pruritus resulting from the intrathecal administration of opioids. Patient-controlled analgesia seems to be an excellent technique, reducing the consumption of local anesthetics, the number of anesthesiologist interventions, and increasing maternal satisfaction.

[Combined epidural-spinal analgesia during labor: a quantitative systematic review of the literature (meta-analysis)]. / Analgesia combinada epidural-intradural para el trabajo de parto: una revisión bibliográfica sistemática cuantitativa (metaanálisis).

OBJECTIVE: To perform a meta-analysis on the use of combined epidural-intrathecal analgesia during labor, including intrathecal fentanyl and/or morphine compared to usual epidural techniques. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A literature search was made looking for randomized clinical trials in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. The size of the effect for quantitative variables was analyzed by weighted mean difference; for qualitative variables, by odds ratio. Variables analyzed were: labor duration, type of delivery (spontaneous, instrumental and caesarean section), motor blockade, pain, and satisfaction. The analysis used in most cases was a random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 21 trials, which included 3.646 patients, were selected out of the 38 initially found. The type of delivery variable with its 3 subgroups was the only one to show uniformity (p>Q 0.1; I(2)<50%). There were no differences in the variables analyzed except pain, which was advantageous for the group with intrathecal fentanyl or morphine by 0.55 points out of 10. CONCLUSION: Combined analgesia including intrathecal fentanyl-morphine does not offer significant advantages compared to the standard epidural.