Premium
THE EFFECTS OF MATERNALLY ADMINISTERED PETHIDINE OR EPIDURAL BUPIVACAINE ON THE FETUS AND NEWBORN
Author(s) -
Lieberman B. A.,
Rosenblatt Deborah B.,
Belsey Elizabeth,
Packer M.,
Redshaw Margaret,
Mills Margaret,
Caldwell J.,
Notarianni Lidia,
Smith R. L.,
Williams M.,
Beard R. W.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1979.tb10820.x
Subject(s) - pethidine , bupivacaine , medicine , anesthesia , umbilical artery , apgar score , fetus , placenta , heart rate , obstetrics , pregnancy , analgesic , blood pressure , biology , genetics
Summary The continuous fetal heart rate pattern, condition of the baby at birth and its subsequent behaviour were compared in three groups of infants whose mothers received during labour either no drugs, intramuscular pethidine or epidural bupivacaine. The blood levels of pethidine and bupivacaine were measured at delivery in a maternal vein, and umbilical artery and vein, and in the newborn during the first 48 hours of life. The only significant changes in the fetal heart rate pattern occurred in association with maternal hypotension or uterine hyper‐stimulation. The Apgar scores at one minutes were 7 or less in more infants in the intramuscular pethidine and epidural bupivacaine groups as compared with the controls. There were no differences in the Apgar scores at five minutes. Neonatal behaviour during the first six weeks of life was not significantly affected by pethidine or epidural bupivacaine when compared with the control group. Pethidine and bupivacaine were shown to cross the placenta freely. The half‐life of these drugs in the newborn was longer than in the adult.