Maternal haemodynamics during labour epidural analgesia with and without adrenaline. 2021

Felix Haidl, and Christian Tronstad, and Leiv Arne Rosseland, and Vegard Dahl
Department of Anaesthesia, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.

Labour is one of the most painful experiences in a woman's life. Epidural analgesia using low-concentration local anaesthetics and lipophilic opioids is the gold standard for pain relief during labour. Pregnancy in general, particularly labour, is associated with changes in maternal haemodynamic variables, such as cardiac output and heart rate, which increase and peak during uterine contractions. Adrenaline is added to labour epidural solutions to enhance efficacy by stimulating the α2-adrenoreceptor. The minimal effective concentration of adrenaline was found to be 2 μg mL-1 for postoperative analgesia. The addition of adrenaline may also produce vasoconstriction, limiting the absorption of fentanyl into the systemic circulation, thereby reducing foetal exposure. However, adrenaline may influence the haemodynamic fluctuations, possibly adding to the strain on the circulatory system. The aim of this study was to compare the haemodynamic changes after application of labour epidural analgesia with or without adrenaline 2 μg mL-1. This was a secondary analysis of a single-centre, randomised double-blind trial. Forty-one nulliparous women in labour requesting epidural analgesia were randomised to receive epidural solution of bupivacaine 1 mg mL-1, fentanyl 2 μg mL-1 with or without adrenaline 2 μg mL-1. The participants were monitored using a Nexfin CC continuous non-invasive blood pressure and cardiac output monitor. The primary outcomes were changes in peak systolic blood pressure and cardiac output during uterine contraction within 30 min after epidural activation. The effect of adrenaline was tested statistically using a linear mixed-effects model of the outcome variables' dependency on time, adrenaline, and their interaction. After excluding three patients due to poor data quality and two due to a malfunctioning epidural catheter, 36 patients (18 in each group) were analysed. The addition of adrenaline to the solution had no significant effect on the temporal changes in peak systolic blood pressure (p=0.26), peak cardiac output (0.84), or heart rate (p=0.91). Furthermore, no significant temporal changes in maternal haemodynamics (peak systolic blood pressure, p=0.54, peak cardiac output, p=0.59, or heart rate p=0.55) were associated with epidural analgesia during 30 min after epidural activation in both groups despite good analgesia. The addition of 2 μg mL-1 adrenaline to the epidural solution is not likely to change maternal haemodynamics during labour.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D002045 Bupivacaine A widely used local anesthetic agent. 1-Butyl-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-piperidinecarboxamide,Bupivacain Janapharm,Bupivacain-RPR,Bupivacaina Braun,Bupivacaine Anhydrous,Bupivacaine Carbonate,Bupivacaine Hydrochloride,Bupivacaine Monohydrochloride, Monohydrate,Buvacaina,Carbostesin,Dolanaest,Marcain,Marcaine,Sensorcaine,Svedocain Sin Vasoconstr,Bupivacain RPR
D004837 Epinephrine The active sympathomimetic hormone from the ADRENAL MEDULLA. It stimulates both the alpha- and beta- adrenergic systems, causes systemic VASOCONSTRICTION and gastrointestinal relaxation, stimulates the HEART, and dilates BRONCHI and cerebral vessels. It is used in ASTHMA and CARDIAC FAILURE and to delay absorption of local ANESTHETICS. Adrenaline,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Adrenaline Acid Tartrate,Adrenaline Bitartrate,Adrenaline Hydrochloride,Epifrin,Epinephrine Acetate,Epinephrine Bitartrate,Epinephrine Hydrochloride,Epinephrine Hydrogen Tartrate,Epitrate,Lyophrin,Medihaler-Epi,Acetate, Epinephrine
D005260 Female Females
D006439 Hemodynamics The movement and the forces involved in the movement of the blood through the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM. Hemodynamic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015360 Analgesia, Epidural The relief of pain without loss of consciousness through the introduction of an analgesic agent into the epidural space of the vertebral canal. It is differentiated from ANESTHESIA, EPIDURAL which refers to the state of insensitivity to sensation. Epidural Analgesia
D016362 Analgesia, Obstetrical The elimination of PAIN, without the loss of CONSCIOUSNESS, during OBSTETRIC LABOR; OBSTETRIC DELIVERY; or the POSTPARTUM PERIOD, usually through the administration of ANALGESICS. Obstetrical Analgesia,Analgesia, Obstetric,Obstetric Analgesia

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