The effect of peridural analgesia on uterine contractions
Marpeau, L.; Jault, T.; Gauchet, F.; Barrat, J.; Milliez, J.
Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction 22(5): 539-542
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0368-2315 PMID: 8228019 Document Number: 408257
To study the impact of 0.25% bupivacaine on the frequency and intensity of uterine contractions. 52 patients in labour. Continuous internal tokographic measurement of uterine activity at 10 minutes before instilling the bupivacaine and at 30 minutes after doing so. The true frequency and intensity of the uterine contractions were the two parameters that were studied. There was a significant variation (matched Student's test) between the two parameters that were studied: there was transitory hypokinesia (p = 0.003) and intense prolonged hyperkinesia (p < 0.001). 0.25% bupivacaine produces hyperkinetic increases in intensity of the contractions of which the mechanism has not been elucidated; therefore it is inadvisable to add oxytocics in the minutes after instilling bupivacaine.