International journal of obstetric anesthesia
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Int J Obstet Anesth · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialHip-flexed postures do not affect local anaesthetic spread following induction of epidural analgesia for labour.
Hip-flexed postures enlarging the pelvic diameter are used to improve the obstetric course of labour. Although most investigations show that lateral and sitting positions do not affect the spread of epidural analgesia, the effect of recently introduced hip-flexed postures has yet to be confirmed. This prospective randomised study included 93 parturients. ⋯ There was no motor block nor any maternal or fetal side effects. The power of the study (1 - beta) was 93%. We conclude that, for the three hip-flexed postures tested, position does not influence local anaesthetic spread or symmetry of thermo-algesic blockade after induction of obstetric epidural analgesia.