Surveys on the use of regional anaesthesia in obstetrics.

Regional anaesthetic techniques in obstetrics have gained more and more importance during the last few years. Several surveys published recently show a remarkable increase in caesarean sections performed under regional anaesthesia, in many countries. Furthermore, epidural analgesia has proved to be one of the most effective methods of pain relief during vaginal delivery. Especially in patients at risk of an abdominal delivery, an epidural catheter already in place during labour can be used for consecutive caesarean section without delay and is used as a strong argument in favour of epidural anaesthesia. This article gives an overview of recent surveys of regional anaesthesia in obstetrics.