EPIDURAL-ANESTHESIA FOR ELECTIVE CESAREAN-SECTION DOES NOT INFLUENCE FETAL UMBILICAL ARTERY BLOOD-FLOW INDEXES

This prospective study was completed to determine the influence of epi dural anaesthesia on the fetoplacental circulation of normal subjects. Thirty-seven normal pregnant patients at term, undergoing elective Ca esarean section, had Doppler measurements of the fetal umbilical arter y blood flow velocity before and after epidural anaesthesia using lido caine 2% without epinephrine. There were no differences in systolic/di astolic, resistance or pulsality indices following epidural anaesthesi a. These results suggest that this technique has no adverse effect on fetoplacental circulation in normal non-labouring subjects.