Epidural anesthesia helps faster stomach emptying during labour - Video

Published On 2022-02-08T17:47:32+05:30 | Updated On 8 Feb 2022 5:47 PM IST

Overview

Laboring women undergo severe pain and due to continuous contraction of the uterine wall several complications arise during labor. Physician anesthesiologists prefer that laboring women have an empty stomach because of the lower risk for aspiration (inhaling) of food in case general anesthesia for cesarean section becomes necessary.

A study published Online First in Anesthesiology, the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), finds "stomach emptying" is substantially slower during labor but somewhat faster in women who receive an epidural for pain control to prevent further complications.

Results suggest anesthesiologists should remain cautious about permitting solid food during labor, especially when epidural analgesia is not used. The findings add new evidence for the ongoing debate as to whether it's safe for women to eat solid food during labor.

Speakers

Dr. Nandita Mohan

BDS, MDS( Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry)

Dr. Nandita Mohan is a practicing pediatric dentist with more than 5 years of clinical work experience. Along with this, she is equally interested in keeping herself up to date about the latest developments in the field of medicine and dentistry which is the driving force for her to be in association with Medical Dialogues. She also has her name attached with many publications; both national and international. She has pursued her BDS from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore and later went to enter her dream specialty (MDS) in the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry from Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences. Through all the years of experience, her core interest in learning something new has never stopped. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751