Maternal and fetal effects of lumbar epidural analgesia for labor and delivery in patients with gestational hypertension.

The effects of continuous lumbar epidural analgesia for labor and delivery were studied in 20 women with gestational hypertension. Maternal hemodynamics, renal function, acid-base, and blood gas findings were examined together with newborn APgar scores and umbilical vessel blood gas and acid-base values. Minimal change occurred in maternal renal function and hemodynamics. Maternal and bewborn aicd-base and blood gas findings were comparable to those of normotensive control subjects also receiving epidural analgesia. Apgar scores in both groups of subjects wer good. Continuous epidural analgesia is recommended as a useful form of therapy in the management of labor and delivery in women with gestational hypertension.