• Domingos Dias Cicarelli, Renata Veloso Silva, Elke Frerichs, and Marcelo Lacava Pagnocca.
• Hospital Universitário, USP.
• Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2007 Jun 1; 57 (3): 272-9.

Background And ObjectivesCombined spinal-epidural (CSE) is a very common obstetric technique. However, the literature does not present a standardization regarding the technique, doses, and anesthetics used, besides there is also the controversy about the possibility that the addition of opioids to the local anesthetic causes fetal bradycardia and affects its vitality. The aim of this study was to identify the techniques and anesthetics used in the Anesthesiology Service of the Hospital Universitário of Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and determine whether the use of sufentanil associated with the local anesthetic affects Apgar scores of newborns.MethodsThe anesthesiology charts of patients submitted to CSE for labor analgesia over a 12-month period at the Hospital Universitário of USP were analyzed. The use and dose of sufentanil, the type of delivery, and Apgar scores in the 1st, 5th, and 10th minutes were recorded.ResultsOf the 635 CSE analyzed, 307 used sufentanil and local anesthetic (SUF Group) and 328 only local anesthetic (LA Group). One hundred and twenty-seven (20%) were done using the needle through the needle technique and the other 508 (80%) used the double puncture technique. There were no differences in the Apgar scores in the 1st, 5th, and 10th minutes between both groups.ConclusionsThe use of sufentanil in the combined spinal-epidural did not change Apgar scores of the newborns.

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