[The effect of local anaesthetics on uterine blood flow and O2-consumption in pregnant sheep (author's transl)].

The local anesthetics bupivacaine, etidocaine, lignocaine and chloroprocaine were infused intravenously for 30 min to pregnant sheep, prepared for chronic studies. The amide compounds reached highere plasma concentrations than chloroprocaine. All local anaesthetics decreased uterine blood flow and O2 consumption without marked alterations of arterial or uterine venous blood gases. These changes were within the wide physiological range of variation, which was established in controls during 24 h. The findings may be of significance during paracervical block or pathological states of UBF or fetal homeostasis.