Relación entre analgesia epidural y procedimientos obstétricos de emergencia: Revisión de la literatura

Analgesia during labor is a critical aspect of obstetric care. This study aims to analyze the impact of epidural analgesia on maternal outcomes during labor, focusing on the incidence of cesarean sections and instrumental deliveries, and to assess its safety and effectiveness. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, covering the period from 2000 to January 2022. The review included randomized trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, and retrospective studies from databases such as Web of Science, Embase, Elsevier, and PubMed Central. The selected studies provided relevant information on maternal outcomes and the association between epidural analgesia use and the recurrence of emergency obstetric procedures. The review revealed mixed evidence regarding the association of epidural analgesia with cesarean sections and instrumental deliveries. While some studies suggested an increased risk of instrumental births, others found no significant difference in the risk of cesarean sections or instrumental deliveries between groups with and without epidural analgesia. Notably, epidural analgesia was associated with higher maternal satisfaction and did not significantly increase the risk of major complications. The study highlighted the need for individualized evaluation and careful risk-benefit analysis before opting for epidural analgesia in labor