| Abstract: | Experiences with 300 continuous and 62 single-shot epiduralblocks administered during labour are presented. The main indicationsfor continuous epidural analgesia were inco-ordinate uterineaction, severe pre-eclampsia and failure of orthodox analgesicdrugs to produce satisfactory pain relief. The method can alsobe used with benefit in selected cases of cardiac and respiratorydisease. In hypertonic inco-ordinate uterine action graphicalanalysis of labour demonstrates an increased rate of cervicaldilatation after epidural block in 70 per cent of cases. Inpre-eclampsia a satisfactory reduction of systolic and diastolicblood pressure is produced. Analgesia is virtually completeand the complication rate is acceptably low in experienced hands.Single-shot epidural analgesia is excellent for forceps deliveryand blood loss at delivery is reduced. Epidural analgesia hasa valuable therapeutic role in obstetrics and is one of thebenefits which result from the introduction of a 24-hour residentobstetric anaesthetic service. |
