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The benefits of labour analgesia

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Regional Analgesia in Obstetrics

Abstract

The greatest benefit of labour analgesia is the relief of maternal sufferings. Of all the current available labour analgesic techniques, regional analgesia is undoubtedly the most efficacious. It attenuates the sympatho-adrenal response to pain resulting in greater maternal cardiovascular stability, improved uteroplacental perfusion and improved fetal outcome. It prevents maternal hyperventilation which may cause hypocarbia-induced vasoconstriction and reduction of utero-placental perfusion. The reduction in the work of breathing and oxygen consumption also results in less maternal lactic acidosis. In the healthy parturient and uncompromised fetus, the only definite benefit of regional analgesia is arguably the relief of maternal sufferings. However, in the high risk parturient and compromised fetus, it can improve both maternal and fetal outcome.

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Authors
  1. Chee Chuen Loo
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  2. Lars Irestedt
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anaesthetics, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, UK

    Felicity Reynolds MBBS, MD, FRCA, FRCOG ad eundem

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag London

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Loo, C.C., Irestedt, L. (2000). The benefits of labour analgesia. In: Reynolds, F. (eds) Regional Analgesia in Obstetrics. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0435-3_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0435-3_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

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