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Introduction and objectives: Regional anesthesia provides excellent anesthesia and analgesia in obstetric patients, but has potential for complications such as post-dural puncture headache and permanent or transient nerve damage. This study aimed to describe the incidence of post-dural puncture headache and nerve damage in the obstetric population of auniversity hospital that was submitted to neuraxial blockades, comparing with the world literature, and identify risk factors. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort was performed including data collected in the records of post-anesthetic consults conducted during the year 2010. The main analysis was performed on the complaints of peripheral neurological deficits and headaches reported by patients, type of anesthesia and performed surgical procedures. A multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between the onset of lower limb paresthesias and the length of stay of these patients in the gynecological position and other variables. Results: A total of 2399 pregnant patients who had undergone neuraxial blockade were evaluated. Neurologic complications that occurred in these patients were divided into lower limb paresthesias (0.3%), transient radicular irritation (0.1%), and post-dural puncture headache (3%). The patients who stayed more than 60 min in gynecological position showed an odds ratio of evolution with lower limb paresthesias of 1.75 and patients who stayed more than 120 min showed an odds ratio of 2.1, but without statistical significance. Conclusions: Patients submitted to neuraxial blockades and placed in gynecological position were more likely to evolve with lower limb paresthesias related to duration of this position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Combined spinal-epidural (CSE) is a very common obstetric technique. However, the literature does not present a standardization regarding the technique, doses, and anesthetics used, besides there is also the controversy about the possibility that the addition of opioids to the local anesthetic causes fetal bradycardia and affects its vitality. The aim of this study was to identify the techniques and anesthetics used in the Anesthesiology Service of the Hospital Universitário of Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and determine whether the use of sufentanil associated with the local anesthetic affects Apgar scores of newborns., Methods: The anesthesiology charts of patients submitted to CSE for labor analgesia over a 12-month period at the Hospital Universitário of USP were analyzed. The use and dose of sufentanil, the type of delivery, and Apgar scores in the 1st, 5th, and 10th minutes were recorded., Results: Of the 635 CSE analyzed, 307 used sufentanil and local anesthetic (SUF Group) and 328 only local anesthetic (LA Group). One hundred and twenty-seven (20%) were done using the needle through the needle technique and the other 508 (80%) used the double puncture technique. There were no differences in the Apgar scores in the 1st, 5th, and 10th minutes between both groups., Conclusions: The use of sufentanil in the combined spinal-epidural did not change Apgar scores of the newborns.