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Effect of Epidural Labour Analgesia on Maternal Body Temperature

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Context: Epidural analgesia is an effective mode of labour analgesia. Few studies have shown that epidural analgesia is associated with an increase in maternal body temperature. The greatest impact of this increase in maternal body temperature lies in the need to eliminate the possibility of infection and subsequent use of antibiotics. This study was done to determine the relationship between epidural labour analgesia and maternal body temperature in Indian population. Aims: To determine the relationship between epidural labour analgesia and increased maternal intrapartum temperature. Settings and Design: A prospective randomised study in our institution. Methods and Material: Sixty ASA 1 or 2 consenting parturients scheduled for normal delivery were randomly allocated to 2 groups of 30 each to receive inj Fentanyl 50 mg intravenous or epidural boluses of 0.125% ropivacaine with 2 mg/cc of fentanyl after ethical committee approval. Baseline maternal and fetal vital parameters including maternal body temperature were recorded. Statistical analysis used: Data was analysed using student’s unpaired t-test, Mann Whitney’s U test and one-way ANOVA wherever indicated Results: Significant difference (p< 0.05) in the maternal body temperature between the groups at all intervals were noted. There was a significant rise in the temperature from baseline within the group as well (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The present study shows that maternal body temperature increases during labour and epidural labour analgesia only exaggerates it, albeit, without any apparent repercussions on the mother or infant.

Perspectives

Context: Epidural analgesia is an effective mode of labour analgesia. Few studies have shown that epidural analgesia is associated with an increase in maternal body temperature. The greatest impact of this increase in maternal body temperature lies in the need to eliminate the possibility of infection and subsequent use of antibiotics. This study was done to determine the relationship between epidural labour analgesia and maternal body temperature in Indian population. Aims: To determine the relationship between epidural labour analgesia and increased maternal intrapartum temperature. Settings and Design: A prospective randomised study in our institution. Methods and Material: Sixty ASA 1 or 2 consenting parturients scheduled for normal delivery were randomly allocated to 2 groups of 30 each to receive inj Fentanyl 50 mg intravenous or epidural boluses of 0.125% ropivacaine with 2 mg/cc of fentanyl after ethical committee approval. Baseline maternal and fetal vital parameters including maternal body temperature were recorded. Statistical analysis used: Data was analysed using student’s unpaired t-test, Mann Whitney’s U test and one-way ANOVA wherever indicated Results: Significant difference (p< 0.05) in the maternal body temperature between the groups at all intervals were noted. There was a significant rise in the temperature from baseline within the group as well (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The present study shows that maternal body temperature increases during labour and epidural labour analgesia only exaggerates it, albeit, without any apparent repercussions on the mother or infant.

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This page is a summary of: Effect of Epidural Labour Analgesia on Maternal Body Temperature, Indian Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia, January 2018, Red Flower Publication Private, Ltd.,
DOI: 10.21088/ijaa.2349.8471.5218.13.
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