Abstract
Labor epidural analgesia provides the most effective pain relief, and is indicated for patients with panic disorder or spinal cord injury. Labor pain stresses the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Labor epidural analgesia reduces such stresses in patients with medical complications (e.g., bronchial asthma, myasthenia gravis, ischemic heart disease, mitral valve stenosis, cerebral aneurysm) . Labor epidural analgesia is also preferred in preeclamptic parturients, because it facilitates the control of blood pressure and may improve blood blow to the fetus.
Complications of labor epidural analgesia include hypotension, intravascular or spinal catheterization, nerve injury, and epidural hematoma or abscess. They are well recognized as complications of epidural anesthesia for surgery, but are reviewed from the obstetric perspective in this paper. Fetal transient bradycardia and maternal fever are unique complications of labor epidural analgesia. Measures to prevent and treat these complications are also discussed.
