The cutaneous sympathetic blockade associated with labour epidural analgesia: a quasi-experimental study conducted during labour and after delivery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The mechanisms contributing to epidural-related maternal hyperthermia remain unclear. One explanation is that blockade of cholinergic sympathetic nerves prevents active vasodilation and sweating. However, it is not known how labour epidural analgesia affects cutaneous sympathetic function. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that labour epidural analgesia inhibits cholinergic and noradrenergic function in the lower, but not the upper, limbs.

Methods

Twenty women (mean age [range]:33 yr [21-48]) receiving epidural analgesia had upper and lower limb cutaneous sympathetic skin responses assessed during labour (epidural) and after delivery (control). Responses were evoked with auditory stimuli delivered through headphones. Sudomotor skin responses (cholin

SUBMITTER: Iacona GMV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12597345 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature