Association of chorioamnionitis with failed conversion of epidural labor analgesia to cesarean delivery anesthesia: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Aim This study aimed to examine the association between clinically diagnosed chorioamnionitis and failed conversion of epidural labor analgesia to cesarean delivery anesthesia. Methods This retrospective, single-center cohort study, conducted in a university hospital, enrolled term parturients undergoing emergency cesarean section after induction of epidural labor analgesia between September 2015 and May 2019. For the purpose of this study, all cases were re-examined to ensure that they fulfilled the criteria of chorioamnionitis, regardless of the actual indication for cesarean section proposed by obstetricians at the time of application. The primary outcome was failure of conversion of epidural labor analgesia to cesarean delivery anesthesia. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between chorioamnionitis and failure of anesthesia for cesarean section. Results Among the 180 parturients reviewed, 58 (43.9%) fulfilled the criteria for chorioamnionitis. Failure of epidural conversion in the chorioamnionitis (+) group was significantly higher than in the chorioamnionitis (-) group (46.6% [27/58] vs. 18.9% [14/74], crude odds ratio = 3.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.7–8.3). After adjustment for potential confounders (age, body mass index, multiparity, and duration for epidural labor analgesia), chorioamnionitis was found to be associated with failure of anesthesia for cesarean sections (adjusted odds ratio = 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.6–8.4). Conclusions Chorioamnionitis is associated with the failed conversion of epidural labor analgesia to cesarean delivery anesthesia.