M.Cur. / Epidural anaesthesia as a method of pain relief during labour has lately become very popular. statistics show that in some labour units up to 70 percent of all patients undergo epidural anaesthesia. The popularity of this method can be attributed to its effectiveness in relieving pain during labour. The anaesthetist commences an epidural block by introducing an epidural catheter into the epidural space. The anaesthetist administers the test dose and the first therapeutic dose. Within a short duration of time (10 to 20 minutes) the patient can already experience the numbing effect of the anaesthetic. This anaesthetic loses its numbing effect within two to three hours and effective pain relief can only be achieved by administering a further dose of local anaesthetic via the epidural catheter. This procedure can be repeated between three to six times during the average duration of labour. Alternatively a continuous epidural infusion procedure can be used. This last method however sometimes requires the administration of additional epidural "top-ups". If the additional "top-ups" are not administered timeously the patient can experience pain and discomfort. These delays in administering the anaesthetic often occur as a result of the anaesthetist being involved in the treatment of other patients - this often occurs in bigger labour wards where epidural anaesthesia is used during labour and caesarian sections by various patients. The active involvement of the midwife in these administrations can prevent the delays that often occur.

The present project investigated the effect of epidural blockade with local anesthetic on the catabolic stress response during and immediately after abdominal surgery in fasting patients and during infusion of glucose at 2 mg·kg-1·min-1. The kinetics of glucose and protein metabolism were assessed by the stable isotope tracers [6,6-2H2]glucose and L-[1-13C]-leucine. / Epidural blockade was associated with a lower plasma glucose concentration and glucose production when compared to control subjects in the fasted state. Whole body protein breakdown, amino acid oxidation and protein synthesis were suppressed during surgery, and epidural blockade had no modifying effect on perioperative protein metabolism. The suppression of endogenous glucose production by exogenous glucose was more pronounced in the presence of epidural blockade. Perioperative protein metabolism, however, was not influenced by epidural blockade during glucose infusion. / Although epidural blockade suppressed glucose metabolism both in the fasted state and during glucose administration, it failed to exert a modifying effect on perioperative protein metabolism.

Tez (Tıpta Uzmanlık) - Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Anesteziyoloji ve Reanimasyon Anabilim Dalı, 2004. / Bibliyografya var.

Thesis (MMed.(Anaesthesiology-Faculty of Health Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Epidural analgesia has increased in usage dramatically in the United States as a means of comfort for labor pain. Prior studies have connected epidural analgesia to an increase in cesarean birth rate, an increase in use of instrumentation, an increase in length of labor, episiotomy rate, and maternal fever. Epidural analgesia has produced additional costs to the patient and society. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between epidural analgesia during childbirth and childbirth outcomes. The data for this study were obtained from a retrospective patient record review of 200 systematically selected labor patients who delivered in 2002 at a midwestern hospital. The epidural analgesia rate was 72% at this facility in 2002, a significant increase from the previous 5 years. Using the Chi-square test of independence, 3 relationship was established between epidural analgesia and four of the variables examined. A statistically significant relationship was found to exist between epidural analgesia and cesarean birth rate, pitocin augmentation, and the first and second stages of labor with the total sample. The results of the study are important for healthcare providers who are relaying influential wellness information to childbearing women and their partners. The results indicate a need for further education for healthcare providers on alternative methods of pain relief for their patients during childbirth.

No description available.

The potential effects of nutritional support with amino acids or dextrose and epidural blockade on the catabolic response to surgery were investigated in diabetic patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Protein and glucose metabolism were assessed with a stable isotope infusion technique using the two stable isotopes L-[1-13C]leucine and [6,6-2H2 ]glucose. / 1. The first intervention of a postoperative infusion of amino acids avoided pronounced hyperglycaemia in diabetic patients after colorectal surgery and achieved a positive protein balance compared to dextrose. / 2. The second intervention of a short term infusion of amino acids postoperatively blunted protein breakdown and stimulated protein synthesis. This resulted in a positive protein balance in patients with epidural blockade compared to patient controlled analgesia with intravenous morphine. With regard to glucose metabolism, amino acid supply after surgery decreased glucose clearance and endogenous glucose production independent from type of analgesia.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Dec., 2008. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.