Abstract
Introduction:
Epidural analgesia has been considered a risk factor for labor dystocia at trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) and uterine rupture. We evaluated the association between exposure to epidural during TOLAC and mode of delivery and maternal-neonatal outcomes.
Materials and methods:
A single center retrospective study of women that consented to TOLAC within a strict protocol between 2006 and 2013. Epidural “users” were compared to “non-users”. Primary outcome was the mode of delivery: repeat in-labor cesarean or vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Secondary outcomes were maternal/neonatal morbidities. Univariate/multivariate analyses for associations between epidural and mode of delivery were adjusted for significant covariates/mediators.
Results:
Of a total of 105,471 births registered, 9464 (9.0%) were eligible for TOLAC; 7149 (75.5%) women consented to TOLAC, among which 4081 (57.1%) had epidural analgesia. The in labor cesarean rate was significantly lower for the epidural “users” 8.7% vs. “non-users” 11.8%, P<0.0001, with a parallel increased rate of instrumental delivery. Uterine rupture rates were comparable: 0.4% and 0.29%, respectively (P=0.31). The adjusted multivariate model showed that epidural “users” were more likely to experience a VBAC, odds ratio (OR) 4.58 [3.67; 5.70]; P<0.0001 with a similar rate of adverse maternal-neonatal outcomes.
Conclusion:
Epidural analgesia at TOLAC may emerge as a safe and significant adjunct for VBAC.
Author’s statement
Conflict of interest: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Material and methods: Informed consent: Informed consent has been obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Ethical approval: The research related to human subject use has complied with all the relevant national regulations, and institutional policies, and is in accordance with the tenets of the Helsinki Declaration, and has been approved by the authors’ institutional review board or equivalent committee.
Significance: To date the impact of epidural analgesia in the context of TOLAC has not been assessed. Herein, based on data from a tertiary center with strict TOLAC protocols and large numbers of women who agreed to TOLAC and either did or did not receive epidural anesthesia during labor, we show for the first time that epidural analgesia during TOLAC is associated with a high VBAC rate and is safe for both the mother and her neonate.
Funding: No special funding was received for performance of this study.
References
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