Effect of Preemptive Epidural Analgesia in Labor on Cytokine Production
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2006-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
During labor there is an increased production of inflammatory mediators called cytokines.
Higher concentration of certain cytokines has been linked to adverse neonatal and maternal
outcomes.
Epidural analgesia is commonly performed after the parturient feels labor pain.
We hypothesis that preemptive epidural analgesia (initiated before labor pain begins)can
influence the production of cytokines.