• L K Chen, C J Lin, C H Huang, M H Wang, P L Lin, C N Lee, and W Z Sun.
• Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
• Br J Anaesth. 2006 Feb 1; 96 (2): 226-30.

BackgroundThe transient effects of epidural bupivacaine 0.25-0.5% on the Doppler velocimetry of umbilical and uterine arteries had been reported, but the effects of continuous lower dose epidural bupivacaine (0.05-0.1%) infusion for labour analgesia have never been reported. In this study, we evaluated the effects of continuous epidural bupivacaine 0.075% on the Doppler velocimetry of uterine arteries.MethodsTwenty pregnant women for labour analgesia received continuous epidural bupivacaine 0.075% infusion. We used a 4-MHz continuous-wave Doppler probe (Multigon 500A) with a 200 Hz thump filter to detect uterine blood flow velocity. We recorded the velocimetry data for uterine relaxation and contraction during five time periods: pre-epidural insertion, 1, 2, and 4 h post-epidural infusion, and after delivery of fetus.ResultsOur data showed that the velocimetric indices of uterine vascular resistance were significantly increased 1, 2, and 4 h after epidural infusion when compared with the pre-epidural level; these returned to the baseline after delivery.ConclusionContinuous epidural analgesia with bupivacaine 0.075% increases the resistance of uterine artery and therefore possibly reduces the uterine blood flow.

26 keywords...

hide…