BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Analgesia in labour and fetal acid-base balance: a meta-analysis comparing epidural with systemic opioid analgesia.
To assess the effect of epidural versus systemic labour analgesia on funic acid-base status at birth. ⋯ Umbilical artery pH is influenced by maternal hyperventilation. Base excess is therefore a better index of metabolic acidosis after labour. Epidural analgesia is associated with improved neonatal acid-base status, suggesting that placental exchange is well preserved in association with maternal sympathetic blockade and good analgesia. Although epidural analgesia may cause maternal hypotension and fever, longer second stage of labour and more instrumental vaginal deliveries, these potentially adverse factors appear to be outweighed by benefits to neonatal acid-base status.
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To conduct a cost effectiveness analysis of pre-operative gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) in women with uterine fibroids undergoing hysterectomy or myomectomy. ⋯ Although the pre-operative use of GnRHa results in benefits which include less frequent abdominal incisions in the case of hysterectomy and less frequent vertical incisions in the case of myomectomy, the benefits do not justify the costs. This study highlights the importance of considering both the benefits and costs in health care decisions.
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To evaluate the role of pretreatment with gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues (GnRHa) prior to surgery for women with uterine fibroids. ⋯ The use of GnRHa for three to four months prior to fibroid surgery reduces both uterine volume and fibroid size. They are beneficial in the correction of pre-operative iron deficiency anaemia, if present, and reduce intra-operative blood loss. If uterine size is such that a midline incision is planned, this can be avoided in many women with the use of GnRHa. For women undergoing hysterectomy, a vaginal procedure is more likely following the use of these agents.