INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

The study of the methods of controlling labor pain is very important. One of the methods of pain relief is spinal anesthesia. Due to the different opinions about the effects of spinal anesthesia on the delivery process and maternal and fetal consequences, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of spinal anesthesia and compare it with normal vaginal delivery without spinal anesthesia.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, 120 mothers, who were admitted to the maternity ward of Firoozabadi Hospital for delivery, were examined. The patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups of 60 people, one group receiving spinal anesthesia and one without spinal anesthesia, and then, were evaluated in terms of clinical variables and complications of the mother and fetus. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software.

RESULTS

The mean age of the mothers was 26.6 ± 5.9 years. Five mothers (4.2%) who received spinal anesthesia underwent emergency cesarean section and a significant difference was shown between the two groups ( = 0.02). The mean duration of the active phase of labor did not show a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( = 0.2), but the duration of the second phase of labor was significantly longer in the mothers who received spinal anesthesia ( = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

Spinal anesthesia can be used as a low-complication method in vaginal delivery to reduce pain.