The influence of epidural anesthesia on the hearing system after normal labor.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the influence of epidural anesthesia on the hearing system in women undergoing normal labor.

Design: We examined two groups of patients: women with epidural anesthesia underwent four tests of distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAEs): on admission, and fifteen minutes, one hour, and three hours after the last epidural bolus of local anesthetic. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests were performed on admission, and one hour, and three hours after the last epidural bolus. Women who gave birth without epidural anesthesia underwent DPOAEs tests on admission, during a uterine contraction, during active delivery, and three hours after labor. ABR tests were performed on admission, during a uterine contraction, and three hours after labor.

Study Sample: twenty patients participated in the study. Twelve gave birth with epidural anesthesia and eight without anesthesia.

Results: No significant changes in DPOAEs and ABR recordings were found between the two groups.

Conclusions: Epidural anesthesia does not impair the sensory or the neural elements of the hearing system and therefore does not influence hearing.