International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 1995
Levels of anaesthesia and intraoperative pain at caesarean section under regional block.
This prospective study recorded levels of analgesia (loss of sharp pin prick sensation) and anaesthesia (loss of touch sensation) in 220 women during caesarean section under regional anaesthesia (70 epidurals, 150 spinals). At delivery the difference between analgesia and anaesthesia varied from 0-7 segments for epidurals and 0-9 segments for spinals. ⋯ No patient with a level of anaesthesia which remained above T5 experienced pain. These results indicate that assessing the adequacy of block by sharp pin prick may be misleading and that in the absence of spinal or epidural narcotics a level of anaesthesia up to and including T5 is required to prevent pain during caesarean section.
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 1995
The elective use of oxytocin infusion during labour in nulliparous women using epidural analgesia: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
The obstetric outcome following the elective use of oxytocin infusion was determined in a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. 93 nulliparous women in a London hospital, who had requested epidural analgesia in labour (
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Meralgia paresthetica is a common sensory mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve which occurs in pregnancy as well as in many other conditions. The most likely etiology in pregnancy is entrapment of the nerve as it passes around the anterior superior iliac spine or through the inguinal ligament. Onset of symptoms, most commonly numbness on the anterolateral thigh but possibly including burning, tingling, and other paresthesias, can occur at any time during pregnancy or immediately after labor and delivery. ⋯ The mother should be reassured that the symptoms usually resolve following delivery. Conservative therapy such as minimizing periods of standing, eliminating tight clothing and using oral analgesics may contribute to recovery. As a last resort surgical therapy has been shown to be effective in some cases.