Desenzano Hospital Focuses on Quality and Training in Obstetric Analgesia

“The Azienda Ospedaliera di Desenzano del Garda has always paid particular attention to the issue of quality. Consequently, training and scientific/technical update are considered by this institution a strategic lever to confirm – and in some aspects redefine – the business model, a model that focuses on the user with their needs at the center of public intervention.”

With these words, the general director of AO di Desenzano del Garda, Dr. Angelo Foschini, addresses a topic of great interest, both conceptual and especially practical, at a time when continuous improvement of the quality of provided services and their constant monitoring are reaffirmed as priorities.

The conference and hospital activities

The opportunity to reaffirm this fundamental guiding principle is offered by the presentation of the conference titled Analgesia Anesthesiology in Obstetrics, which will be held on Saturday, October 20th, in the main hall of the Montecroce facility, organized into two sessions starting from 9 a.m.

The initiative was promoted and organized by the Maternal and Child Department of the Azienda Ospedaliera di Desenzano, directed by Dr. Piergiorgio Tassi, with the operative units of anesthesiology and resuscitation at Montecroce (Chief Dr. Walter Iacovelli) and obstetrics and gynecology (Chief Dr. Pasquale Pigantelli).

The department and operative units collaborated organizationally and with the support of the Training and Continuing Education Service, led by Dr. Rossella Goglioni.

Roots of analgesia in obstetrics

“You, woman, will give birth with pain.” From the biblical Genesis, therefore, childbirth is synonymous with suffering. Likewise, analgesia in obstetrics has ancient roots, as from the earliest times attempts have been made to alleviate labor and childbirth using various substances:

Ancient Chinese texts mention the use of opiates, while in Europe women relied on mixtures of mandrake, hemp, poppy, and hemlock.

It is true that the era of modern anesthesia in obstetrics began in 1847; equally important is to remember that this field of medicine faced strong cultural resistance until fairly recent times, especially from conservative circles.

The controversies were so intense that in 1956 Pope Pius XII had to intervene, declaring that the Church does not oppose the prevention of pain during labor and childbirth.

Since the 1960s, there has been rapid technological and pharmacological evolution in analgesia. Today, modern anesthesiology allows women to control their pain during labor and delivery through epidural analgesia, enabling a natural and spontaneous birth at the same time.

The importance of epidural analgesia

“Precisely epidural analgesia,” state the Maternal and Child Department of AO di Desenzano, “is currently the most effective method to combat labor and childbirth pain without interfering with its normal course, and it also allows the woman to actively participate in the birth of her child.”

The creation of the childbirth analgesia service in our local context today represents a testament to the value of this technique, fitting into the broader improvement of services offered to giving mothers within our Sanitary Company.

“The conference,” explains Dr. Rossella Goglioni, “provides an opportunity to explain through competent and precise cultural information to obstetricians, gynecologists, anesthetists-resuscitators, midwives, and general practitioners the position of analgesia in modern obstetric practice.”

Assessments on training and education

Regarding updates on the subject, the director of health of the AO, Professor Alfonso Castellani, concludes: “The Azienda ospedaliera di Desenzano has historically given and continues to give significant importance to staff training. Thanks to the exceptionally well-led Ufficio (Office) by Dr. Rossella Goglioni, it has made a qualitative leap by proposing targeted interventions with impactful results not only within our institution.”

“Many of our courses,” he specifies with rightful pride, “have seen high participation from trainees from other health institutions, including outside the region.”