LEA And Bladder Catheter: Yea or Nay?

Dr. Chapa’s Clinical Pearls.

In the US, an estimated 70-75% of women who give birth use an epidural for pain relief during labor. Epidural anesthesia during labor can affect bladder function by delaying the return of bladder sensation and potentially leading to urinary retention. This can be due to the nerves that control bladder function being affected by the epidural, reducing the sensation of bladder fullness and the urge to urinate. Intrapartum, there is no universal guidance regarding bladder management with labor epidural analgesia (LEA). Does one method of bladder care intrapartum affect mode of delivery more than the other? Is it better to have an indwelling catheter or to perform intermittent caths. What about patient self-voiding with a bedpan. Let’s summarize the data.