Labour analgesia and obstetric outcome in heart disease complicating pregnancy in tertiary care center

Abstract

Background: One of the most severe pain experienced by a woman is during child birth. It is imperative to understand the pain transmission for providing labour analgesia. Hemodynamic status in labour fluctuates greatly during uterine contraction and true labour pains. Therefore, pregnant women with cardiovascular disease need epidural anaesthesia during labour depending upon the type of cardiovascular disease. Objective of this study was to assess the impact of labour analgesia and the obstetric outcome and cardiac events during labour.Methods: This is an observational study conducted in 46 pregnant women with cardiovascular disease during the period of January 2019 to December 2019 (12 months).Results: A total of 46 antenatal mother with cardiovascular disease was admitted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology over a period of one year out of which 25 patients who had epidural analgesia during labour and 21 patients who had no epidural analgesia during labour. Cardiovascular events significantly reduced in epidural group (25 patients) and there was no increase in cesarean section in epidural group.Conclusions: The data showed there was significant decrease in cardiovascular events related to arrhythmia hence decreased maternal morbidity and mortality. There was no associated increase in cesarean section rate but slight increase in instrumental vaginal delivery.