Abstract:

Intraspinal labor analgesia is a primary method for alleviating labor pain in women. Administering intraspinal labor analgesia during the latent phase of the first stage of labor can significantly reduce labor pain, making women more willing to attempt vaginal delivery and thereby reducing the rate of cesarean sections, especially those without clear medical indications due to pain factors. It can also decrease the incidence of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and postpartum hemorrhage, thus improving the quality of delivery. However, intraspinal labor analgesia may have some adverse effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes. While it can accelerate cervical dilation during the latent phase of the first stage of labor, it may prolong the active phase of the first stage and the second stage of labor. Intraspinal analgesia increases the risk of instrumental vaginal delivery and postpartum urinary retention, with the latter potentially leading to urinary tract infections and postpartum hemorrhage. Additionally, intrapartum fever may be associated with intraspinal labor analgesia. Risk factors for intrapartum fever include premature rupture of membranes, excessive vaginal examinations, prolonged labor duration, prolonged time from rupture of membranes to delivery, high maternal body mass index, and prolonged duration of intraspinal labor analgesia. Intrapartum fever may increase the risk of low Apgar scores and neonatal infections, leading to adverse neonatal outcomes. This review examines the impact of intraspinal labor analgesia on labor progress, delivery mode, and maternal and neonatal outcomes, providing a reference for improving delivery quality and reducing adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Key words: Spinal canal, Analgesia, obstetrical, Labor, obstetric, Fever, Pregnancy outcome