Prolonged Dystocic Labor in Neuraxial Analgesia and the Role of Enkephalin Neurotransmitters: An Experimental Study

The investigation studied the enkephalinergic neuro fibers (En) contained in the Lower Uterine Segment (LUS) during the prolonged dystocic labor (PDL) with Labor Neuraxial Analgesia (LNA). PDL is generally caused by fetal head malpositions in the Occiput Posterior Position (OPP), Persistent Occiput Posterior Position (POPP), in a transverse position (OTP), and asynclitism (A), and it is detected by Intrapartum Ultrasonography (IU). The En were detected in the LUS samples picked up during cesarean section (CS) of 38 patients undergoing urgent CS in PDL, compared to 37 patients submitted to elective CS. Results were statistically evaluated to understand the differences in En morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by fluorescence microscopy (FM). The LUS samples analysis showed an important reduction in En in LUS of CS for the PDL group, in comparison with the elective CS group. The LUS overdistension, by fetal head malpositions (OPP, OTP, A) and malrotations, lead to dystocia, modification of vascularization, and En reduction. The En reduction in PDL suggests that drugs used during the LNA, usually local anesthetics and opioids, cannot control the "dystocic pain", that differs from normal labor pain. The IU administration in labor and the consequent diagnosis of dystocia suggest stopping the numerous and ineffective top-up drug administration during LNA, and to shift the labor to operative vaginal delivery or CS.