Combined spinal-epidural analgesia in the management of labouring parturients with mitral stenosis

We report the use of combined spinal-epidural analgesia during labour in three parturients with moderately severe mitral stenosis. In each case, rapid analgesia was achieved using intrathecal fentanyl 25 mu g without major haemodynamic changes. Maintenance analgesia was then established gradually using a dilute epidural infusion of bupivacaine 0.1% and fentanyl 0.0002%, with the avoidance of large or rapid boluses of local anaesthetic. Supplementary analgesia in the latter stages of labour was provided using slow epidural boluses of fentanyl, with or without a low concentration of bupivacaine, which was sufficient to allow controlled instrumental deliveries. We conclude that combined spinal-epidural analgesia is a useful technique for providing analgesia and maintaining haemodynamic stability in parturients with mitral stenosis.