The impact of epidural analgesia on third stage of labor disorders

To evaluate whether epidural analgesia (EA) is associated with complications of the third stage labor. In this retrospective population-based cohort study, all women who delivered between years 1996-2016 in a large tertiary medical center were divided to those used EA during labor (study group) and did not (comparison group). We excluded from analysis multiple pregnancies, congenital malformations, underwent cesarean section, complicated uterine rupture index pregnancy lacking prenatal care. Clinical, demographical obstetrical characteristics collected adverse perinatal outcomes compared groups. Univariate was followed by multivariate control for confounders. A p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. During study period, 209,096 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 43,413 (20.7%) EA. Significantly higher rates postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), need blood transfusions anemia (Hemoglobin less than 10gr/dl) noted group. composite placental (including retained placenta, adherent manual removal curettage, revision cavity) found be significantly different analysis, after controlling maternal age, vacuum delivery, polyhydramnios previous an independent risk factor hemorrhagic outcome PPH, transfusion anemia). (PPH, anemia) complications.