Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Menu
Find a journal Publish with us Track your research
Search
Cart
  1. Home
  2. Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia
  3. Article

Labour analgesia with intrathecal fentanyl decreases maternal stress

  • Reports of Investigation
  • Published: June 1997
  • Volume 44, pages 605–609, (1997)
  • Cite this article
Download PDF
Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia Aims and scope Submit manuscript
Labour analgesia with intrathecal fentanyl decreases maternal stress
Download PDF
  • Martin Cascio1,
  • Bernard Pygon1,
  • Cathleen Bernett1 &
  • …
  • Sivam Ramanathan1 
  • 720 Accesses

  • 69 Citations

  • Explore all metrics

Abstract

Purpose

Lumbar epidural analgesia (LEA) decreases maternal stress as measured by maternal circulating plasma catecholamine concentrations. Intrathecal fentanyl (ITF) provides effective labour analgesia but its effect on maternal epinephnne (Epi) and norepinephnine (NE) concentrations is not known. This study assesses whether ITF reduces maternal stress in the same manner as conventional LEA.

Methods

Twenty-four healthy women in active labour received either 25 μ/g ITF (n = 12) or epidural lidocaine 1.5% (n = 12) for analgesia. Venous blood samples were collected before anaesthesia and at five minute intervals for 30 mm following anaesthesia for the measurement of plasma Epi and NE by high performance liquid chromatography. Maternal blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), visual analog scores (VAS) to pain and pruntus were recorded at the same time.

Results

Both ITF and LEA decreased pain VAS scores, maternal BP, and plasma Epi concentrations with only minimal effects on plasma NE concentrations. Intrathecal fentanyl (ITF) and LEA reduced plasma epi to a similar extent, with ITF reducing the levels slightly faster than LEA. Intrathecal fentanyi(ITF) and LEA reduced plasma Epi concentrations by 52% and 51%, respectively (P value < 0.01).

Conclusion

We conclude that ITF is as effective as LEA in producing pain relief in the labounng patient. Intrathecal Fentanyl (ITF) is also capable of reducing maternal plasma epmephnne concentration, thus avoiding the possibly deleterious side effects of excess amounts of this catecholamme during labour.

Résumé

Objectif

L’analgésie épidurale lombaire (AÉL) diminue le stress maternel déterminé par le dosage des concentrations plasmatiques de catécholamines. Le fentanyl sous-arachnoïdien (FSA) procure une analgésie efficace pendant le travail mais on ne connaît pas son influence sur les concentrations maternelles d’épinéphnne (ÉPI) et de norépinéphnne (NÉ). Cette étude visait à déterminer si le FSA diminuait le stress de la même façon que l’AÉL.

Méthodes

Vingt-quatre partunentes bien portantes en travail ont reçu pour l’analgésie soit du FSA 25 μg (n = 12) soit de la lidocaïne épidurale 1,5% (n = 12). Des échantillons de sang veineux ont été recueillis avant l’anesthésie et à des intervalles de cinq minutes pendant 30 min après l’anesthésie dans le but de mesurer l’ÉPI et la NF plasmatiques par Chromatographie en phase liquide à haute performance. En même temps, la pression artérielle (PA). la fréquence cardiaque et les scores d’une échelle visuelle analogique (ÉVA) pour la douleur et le prurit étaient enregistrés.

Résultats

Le FSA et l’AÉL diminuent les scores d’ÉVA, la PA et les concentrations d’ÉPI avec des effets minimes sur les concentrations plasmatiques de NÉ. Le FSA et l’AÉL réduisent également l’ÉPI plasmatique. mais la réduction est un peu plus rapide avec le FSA. Le FSA et l’AÉL diminuent respectivement les concentrations de 51% et 52% (P < 0,01).

Conclusion

Le FSA est aussi efficace que l’AÉL pour soulager la douleur chez la partunente en travail. Le fentanyl sous-arachnoïdien diminue aussi les concentrations maternelles d’épinéphnne. protégeant ainsi la partunente en travail des effets nocifs de concentrations excessives de catécholamines.

Article PDF

Download to read the full article text

Similar content being viewed by others

Prevention of hypotension after induction of general anesthesia using point-of-care ultrasound to guide fluid management: a randomized controlled trial

Article 13 March 2024

Elad Dana, Cristian Arzola & James S. Khan

Prophylactic tranexamic acid in Cesarean delivery: an updated meta-analysis with a trial sequential analysis

Article 07 March 2024

Henrique Provinciatto, Maria E. Barbalho, … Sara Amaral

Antenatal perineal massage benefits in reducing perineal trauma and postpartum morbidities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Article 12 May 2020

Ahmed Mohamed Abdelhakim, Elsayed Eldesouky, … Ali Abdelhafeez Abdel-Latif

Use our pre-submission checklist

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

References

  1. Leighton BL, DeSimone CA, Norris MC, Ben-David B. Intrathecal narcotics for labor revisited: the combination of fentanyl and morphine intrathecally provides rapid onset of profound, prolonged analgesia. Anesth Analg 1989; 69: 122–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mandell GL, Jamnback L, Rnmanathan S. Hemodynamic effects of subarachnoid fentanyl in laboring parturients. Reg Anesth 1996; 21: 103–11.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lederman E, Lederman RP, Work BA Jr, McCann DS. Maternal psychological and physiologic correlates of fetal-newborn health status. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1981; 139: 956–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Abboud TK, Artal R, Henriksen EH, Earl S, Kammula RK. Effects of spinal anesthesia on maternal circulating catecholamines. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982; 142: 252–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shnider SM, Abboud TK, Artal R, Henriken EH, Stefani SJ, Levinson G. Maternal catecholamines decrease during labor after lumbar epidural anesthesia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1983; 147: 13–5.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Carruthers M, Conway N, Somerville W, Taggart P, Bates D. Validity of plasma catecholamine estimations. Lancet 1970; 1: 62–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hjemdahl P. Catecholamine measurements by highperformance liquid chromatography. Am J Physiol 1984; 247: 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Robertson D, Johnson GA, Robertson RM, Nies AS, Shand DG, Oates JA. Comparative assessment of stimuli that release neuronal and adrenomedullary catecholamines in man. Circulation 1979: 59: 637–43.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. van den Meiracker AH, Man in ’t Veld AJ, Boomsma F, Schalekamp MA. Venous versus arterial forearm catecholamines as an index of overall sympathoadrenomedullary activity. Clin Exp Hypertens (A) 1989; 11(Suppl 1): 345–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hörnchen U, Schüttler J, Stoeckel H. Influence of the pulmonary circulation on adrenaline pharmacokinetics during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Eur J Anaesthesiol 1992; 9: 85–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Dimsdale JE, Zigler MG. What do plasma and urinary measures of catecholamines tell us about human response to Stressors? Circulation 1991; 83(Suppl): II–36-42.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lederman RP, McCann DS, Work B Jr, Huber MJ. Endogenous plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine in last-trimester pregnancy and labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1977; 129: 5–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Irestedt L, Lagercrantz H, Hjemdahl P, Hagnevik K, Belfrage P. Fetal and maternal plasma catecholamine levels at elective cesarean section under general or epidural anesthesia versus vaginal delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982; 142: 1004–10.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Shnider SM, Wright RG, Levinson G, et al. Uterine blood flow and plasma norepinephrine changes during maternal stress in the pregnant ewe. Anesthesiology 1979; 50: 524–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lederman RP, Lederman E, Work BA Jr, McCann DS. The relationship of maternal anxiety, plasma catecholamines and plasma cortisol to progress in labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1978; 132: 495–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Myers RE. Maternal psychological stress and fetal asphyxis: a study in the monkey. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1975; 122: 47–58.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Abboud T, Artal R, Sarkis F, Henriksen EH, Kammula RK. Sympathoadrenal activity, maternal, fetal, and neonatal responses after epidural anesthesia in the preeclamptic patient. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982; 144: 915–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jouppila P, Jouppila R, Hollmén A, Koivula A. Lumbar epidural analgesia to improve intervillous blood flow during labor in severe preeclampsia. Obstet Gynecol 1982; 59: 159–62.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lefkowitz R, Hoffman B, Taylor P. Neurohumoral transmission: the autonomic and somatic motor nervous systems.In: Gilman A, Rall T, Nies A, Palmer T (Eds.). The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed. New York: Pergamon Press, 1990: 102–4.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Dimsdale JE, Moss J. Plasma catecholamines in stress and exercise. JAMA 1980; 243: 340–2.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Guyton A. Textbook of Medical Physiology, 8th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1991: 194–8.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ramanathan S, Desai NS, Zakowski M. Systemic vascular uptake of epinephrine from the lumbar epidural space in parturients. Reg Anesth 1995; 20: 199–205.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Clarke VT, Smiley RM, Finster M. Uterine hyperactivity after intrathecal injection of fentanyl for analgesia during labor: a cause for fetal bradycardia? (Letter) Anesthesiology 1994; 81: 1083.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Zuspan FP, Cibils LA, Pose SV. Myometrial and cardiovascular responses to alterations in plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1962; 81: 841–4.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Hospital, 300 Halket Street, 15213, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Martin Cascio, Bernard Pygon, Cathleen Bernett & Sivam Ramanathan

Authors
  1. Martin Cascio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bernard Pygon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cathleen Bernett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sivam Ramanathan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cascio, M., Pygon, B., Bernett, C. et al. Labour analgesia with intrathecal fentanyl decreases maternal stress. Can J Anaesth 44, 605–609 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03015443

Download citation

  • Accepted: 09 March 1997

  • Issue Date: June 1997

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03015443

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Keywords

  • Obstet Gynecol
  • Visual Analog Score
  • Maternal Stress
  • Labour Analgesia
  • Epinephrine Concentration
Use our pre-submission checklist

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

Advertisement

Search

Navigation

  • Find a journal
  • Publish with us
  • Track your research

Discover content

  • Journals A-Z
  • Books A-Z

Publish with us

  • Publish your research
  • Open access publishing

Products and services

  • Our products
  • Librarians
  • Societies
  • Partners and advertisers

Our imprints

  • Springer
  • Nature Portfolio
  • BMC
  • Palgrave Macmillan
  • Apress
  • Your US state privacy rights
  • Accessibility statement
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Help and support

5.135.140.155

Not affiliated

Springer Nature

© 2024 Springer Nature