• Health, Standard 17/12/2021

CODE 2 Local anaesthetic to perineum

A local anaesthetic to the perineum was administered to the mother for the operative/instrumental birth of the baby. Local anaesthetic to perineum is the infiltration of the perineum with a local anaesthetic.

CODE 3 Pudendal block

A pudendal block was administered to the mother for the operative/instrumental birth of the baby. A pudendal block is an injection of a local anaesthetic to the pudendal nerves.

CODE 4 Epidural or caudal block

An epidural or caudal block was administered to the mother for the operative/instrumental birth of the baby.

An epidural block is an injection of a local anaesthetic into the epidural space of the spinal column.

A caudal block is an injection of a local anaesthetic agent into the caudal portion of the spinal canal through the sacrum.

CODE 5 Spinal block

A spinal block was administered to the mother for the operative/instrumental birth of the baby. A spinal block is an injection of an analgesic drug or anaesthetic drug into the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord. Spinal block is also called Subarachnoid Block Anaesthesia.

CODE 6 General anaesthesia

General anaesthesia was administered to the mother for the operative/instrumental birth of the baby. General anaesthesia includes various anaesthetic agents given primarily by inhalation or intravenous injection.

CODE 7   Combined spinal-epidural block

A combined spinal-epidural block was administered to the mother for the operative/instrumental birth of the baby. A combined spinal-epidural block is a needle-through-needle injection of an analgesic drug or anaesthetic drug into both the epidural space and the subarachnoid space of the spinal column. The spinal-epidural block combines the benefits of rapid action of a spinal block and the flexibility of an epidural block. An epidural catheter inserted during the technique enables the provision of long-lasting analgesia with the ability to titrate the dose for the desired effect.

CODE 88   Other anaesthesia

Other anaesthesia (not indicated above) was administered to the mother for the operative/instrumental birth of the baby. This may include parenteral opioids and nitrous oxide.

Code 1 (None) has been omitted as it is no longer in use. For information about its meaning in previous data elements, see superseded versions.

More than one permissible value may be recorded.

CODE 7   Combined spinal-epidural block

Combined spinal-epidural block should not be recorded if both Code 4 and Code 5 are also recorded.

Anaesthetic use may affect the health status of the baby and is an indicator of obstetric intervention.

National Perinatal Data Development Committee