Current state of anesthesia for labor

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Abstract

The review considers rational methods to control pain during labor, which are the leading criteria for the standards of modern obstetrics. There are various pharmacological and non-pharmacological options for pain relief. The current neuraxial techniques are the gold standard for adequately relieving labor pain and, when used correctly in practice, for providing safety for the mother and fetus. Systemic opioids, including meperidine (pethidine), fentanyl, and more recently remifentanil, are used to avoid or delay neuraxial analgesia or when the latter is contraindicated. The non-drug methods for labor pain relief include relaxation and respiratory maneuvers, prenatal education programs, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, acupressure, aromatherapy, and hypnosis. There are a number of indications and contraindications to each analgesia technique that requires a differential approach and must be chosen individually for each parturient woman, by taking into account her somatic status. The dural puncture epidural (DPE) technique, a novel method of labor analgesia, has recently gained popularity following a basic study comparing standard epidural analgesia and combined spinal epidural analgesia with DPE for labor pain relief. Compared to the traditional landmark-based approach, neuraxial ultrasound is associated with fewer technical failures and traumatic placements, as well as with the fewer insertions and redirections of an epidural needle. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with a programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) is a preferred supportive therapy option that provides effective patient-centered labor analgesia. To date, there is no ideal labor pain relief method that can be applied to all clinical cases.

Conclusion: The current neuraxial techniques are the gold standard for optimal provision of labor pain relief and, when used correctly, are associated with maternal and fetal/neonatal safety. The use of neuraxial techniques, such as combined spinal epidural anesthesia or DPE may have advantages over the standard epidural analgesia. It is necessary to further investigate labor pain relief options with the safest methods and drugs.

About the authors

Sergey V. Pismensky

Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Author for correspondence.
Email: smsu@mail.ru

doctor at the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, Assistant at the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation

Russian Federation, Moscow

Lyubov S. Zolotareva

N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: l_zolotareva@mail.ru

PhD, Junior Researcher, Department of Pediatric Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, Research Institute of Clinical Surgery

Russian Federation, Moscow

Oleg R. Baev

Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: metod_obsgyn@hotmail.com

Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the 1st Maternity Department

Russian Federation, Moscow

Akhmed M. Abdulaev

Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: scars225@mail.ru

resident of the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation

Russian Federation, Moscow

Volodya O. Darbinyan

Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: darbinyan196@gmail.com

resident of the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation

Russian Federation, Moscow

Alexey V. Pyregov

Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: a_pyregov@oparina4.ru

Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Аnesthesiology and Resuscitation, Director of the Institute of Аnesthesiology of Resuscitation and Transfusiology

Russian Federation, Moscow

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