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Research Article

The influence of epidural anesthesia on the hearing system after normal labor

, , , , , , & show all
Pages 519-522 | Received 18 Sep 2010, Accepted 22 Feb 2011, Published online: 12 Apr 2011
 

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the influence of epidural anesthesia on the hearing system in women undergoing normal labor. Design: We examined two groups of patients: women with epidural anesthesia underwent four tests of distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAEs): on admission, and fifteen minutes, one hour, and three hours after the last epidural bolus of local anesthetic. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests were performed on admission, and one hour, and three hours after the last epidural bolus. Women who gave birth without epidural anesthesia underwent DPOAEs tests on admission, during a uterine contraction, during active delivery, and three hours after labor. ABR tests were performed on admission, during a uterine contraction, and three hours after labor Study sample: twenty patients participated in the study. Twelve gave birth with epidural anesthesia and eight without anesthesia. Results: No significant changes in DPOAEs and ABR recordings were found between the two groups. Conclusions: Epidural anesthesia does not impair the sensory or the neural elements of the hearing system and therefore does not influence hearing.

Sumario

Objetivo: El propósito de este studio fue evaluar la influencia de la anestesia epidural en el sistema auditivo de mujeres en trabajo de parto normal. Diseño: examinamos dos grupos de pacientes: uno de mujeres con anestesia epidural, realizaron cuatro pruebas con emisiones otoacústicas por productos de distorsión (DPOAE): al ingreso y a los 15 minutos, una hora y tres horas después del último bolo de anestesia local epidural. También se obtuvieron Respuestas Auditivas de Tallo Cerebral (ABR) al ingreso y una y tres horas después del último bolo epidural. Al grupo de mujeres que dieron a luz sin anestesia epidural se les practicaron pruebas de DPOAE al ingreso, durante una contracción uterina durante el parto activo y tres horas después del mismo. También se hicieron pruebas de ABR al ingreso, durante una contracción uterina y tres horas después del parto. Muestra de estudio: veinte pacientes participaron en el estudio. Doce dieron a luz con anestesia epidural y ocho sin anestesia. Resultados: No se encontraron cambios significativos en los registros de las DPOAE y de las ABR entre los dos grupos. Conclusiones: La anestesia epidural no afecta los elementos sensoriales y neurales del sistema auditivo y consecuentemente, no influencia la audición

Acknowledgement

None.

Declaration of interest: Anat Kochva is the owner and Mark Shkolnik is an employee of the Hedim Hearing Institute that performed the tests for the study.

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