Anesthetic Management During Labor and Vaginal Delivery: Principles and Clinical Practice
Submission: 21 March 2023 | Acceptance: 22 April 2024 | Publication: 25 May 2024
1Javed Butt, 2Tahmoor Ghori, 3Dr. Attique Afzal Malik, 4Shahzad Qayyum, 5Mohib Ali
1UHS Lahore
2MH Rawalpindi
3Assistant professor, Anaesthesia, SMDAS. DHQ Teaching Hospital Haripur.
4UHS Lahore
5Sir Gangaram Lahore
Abstract
Background: Labor pain is one of the most intense forms of pain experienced by women. Effective anesthesia management during labor and vaginal delivery is essential for maternal comfort, safety, and favorable obstetric outcomes.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different anesthesia techniques used during labor and vaginal delivery.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 150 pregnant women undergoing vaginal delivery. Patients received either epidural analgesia, spinal analgesia, or systemic analgesia. Outcomes assessed included pain relief, duration of labor, maternal satisfaction, and complications.
Results: Epidural analgesia provided superior pain relief (VAS score reduction of 80%) compared to spinal (70%) and systemic methods (50%). Maternal satisfaction was highest in the epidural group. No significant increase in adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes was observed.
Conclusion: Epidural anesthesia remains the most effective and safe method for labor analgesia, improving maternal comfort without compromising outcomes.
Keywords: vaginal delivery, anesthesia, Management, labor.