Influence of epidural analgesia on fetal and neonatal well-being

Epidural analgesia is a frequently used method to reduce the pain of child-bearing. Concerns regarding the safety and potential hazards still persist in the medical community. This review intends to examine how epidural analgesia determines the various factors of fetal and neonatal well-being. Placental drug transfer of opiates like morphine, pethidine and fentanyl is rapid and can lead to neonatal depression. Sufentanil seems to be the safest opiate to administer epidurally. Local anaesthetics are transferred to the fetus in substantial amounts, but the reported effects are subtle and are probably inconsequential. Utero- and fetoplacental blood flow seems to be improved by epidural analgesia with local anaesthetics. Even when using stronger solutions for more extensive blockade in patients for caesarean section, no adverse effects could be demonstrated using pulsed Doppler technique as long as prolonged hypotension (> 2 min) is avoided. Hypotension is best prevented with 20-25 ml/kg crystalloid preload and prompt treatment with ephedrine or etilephrine. Addition of adrenaline to local anaesthetics is considered to be safe for the healthy mother and fetus but it should best be avoided in mothers with pregnancy induced hypertension. Fetal and neonatal acid-base balance and gas-exchange are not adversely affected by epidural analgesia. Many studies show that epidural analgesia can indeed protect the fetus if hypotension is prevented. Neonatal well-being evaluated by APGAR, BRAZELTON, SCANLON and NACS scores is not significantly influenced by local anaesthetics. Neonatal depression can occur however with epidural use of morphine, fentanyl and alfentanil. Sufentanil, again in doses up to 30 micrograms in association with bupivacaine seems to be devoid of depressive effects on the neonate. In summary, the anaesthetist has good arguments to reassure his obstetrical colleagues that providing epidural analgesia for pregnant women in labour is a justifiable intervention to support the natural process of child-bearing.