Intrapartum Epidural Analgesia and Low Apgar Score Among Singleton Infants Born at Term: A Propensity Score Matched Study. Issue 2 (24th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ravelli, A.C.J.; Abu-Hanna, A.; Eskes, M.; de Groot, C.J.M.; van der Post, J.A.M.
• Is Part Of: Obstetric anesthesia digest. Volume 41:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2021-06-24
• Subjects: Analgesia for Labor -- Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality; Anesthesia in obstetrics -- Periodicals; Anesthesia in obstetrics -- Abstracts -- Periodicals; 617.968205
• DOI: 10.1097/01.aoa.0000744172.90414.8a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-665X

Abstract

Abstract : ( Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand . 2020;99:1155–1162) While the infant mortality in at-term births is low in Western countries, a recent trend has developed wherein birth asphyxia (based on low Apgar score) is the leading cause of death in term infants in the Netherlands who were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Therefore, additional attention should be given to term neonates with low Apgar scores, and research on NICU admission should be emphasized as part of the assessment of perinatal health in this group of patients. The underlying risks for asphyxia include hypertensive disorders, maternal diabetes (both preexisting and gestational), non-cephalic presentation at birth, prolonged second stage of labor, and intrapartum epidural analgesia (EA). As EA is not generally used in the Netherlands, although its popularity has slowly increased in recent years, this environment is ideal for analyzing the effects of EA on full-term infants. This study aimed to assess the effects of EA on low Apgar score and subsequent NICU admission in term, singleton births and to analyze other underlying risk factors.