The effect of postoperative epidural analgesia in women possessing severe gestational hypertension undergoing cesarean delivery

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical usefulness of postoperative epidural analgesia in patients possessing severe gestational hypertension after Cesarean delivery. Methods: We reviewed the obstetric records of 99 patients possessing severe gestational hypertension undergoing singleton Cesarean delivery at ≥ 22 weeks’ gestation. Thirty patients were received continuous epidural analgesia with 0.2% ropivacaine for pain relief after Cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia, 69 patients were not received epidural analgesia after Cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia. Results: During the preoperative period, there were no measurable differences in the diastolic blood pressure between the 2 groups (108 vs± 7 vs. 106 mmHg ± 10 mmHg, p = 0.29). The diastolic blood pressure at 2 and 4 hours after Cesarean section in the epidural analgesia group were significantly lower than those in the non-epidural group (2 hours after Cesarean section: 88 vs ± 13 vs. 95 mmHg ± 8 mmHg, p < 0.01;4 hours after Cesarean section: 92 vs ± 15 vs. 102 mmHg ± 9 mmHg, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The current results indicated that the postoperative epidural analgesia can inhibit the rise in diastolic blood pressure in patients possessing severe gestational hypertension after Cesarean delivery. This electronic document is a “live” template. The various components of your paper [title, text, heads, etc.] are already defined on the style sheet, as illustrated by the portions given in this document.

Perinatal outcomes associated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid in Japanese singleton pregnancies

Introduction: We examined the perinatal outcomes in Japanese singleton pregnancies associated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) in relation to gestational age at delivery. Methods: We reviewed the obstetric records of all Japanese singleton deliveries after 22 weeks’ gestation managed at Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital between 2002 and 2008 (n = 11,249). Results: The incidence of MSAF in the whole singleton pregnancies was 13%. The incidence of MSAF at preterm, term and post-term were 9.1%, 13% and 48%, respectively. The incidence of intrauterine fetal death, low Apgar score and low umbilical artery pH at delivery in cases with MSAF were significantly higher than those without MSAF in various gestational ages at delivery. Conclusion: Obstetric management should be affected by meconium in the amniotic fluid.