Effect of low-dose epidural parturition analgesy on continuation and outcome of labour

• Main Authors: Drago Sredanović, Maja Merkun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2007-11-01
• Series: Zdravniški Vestnik
• Subjects: low-dose intermittent epidural parturition analgesy; time of labour duration; vacuum extraction; caesarean section; nulliparae
• Online Access: http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/1924
• ISSN: 1318-0347; 1581-0224

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Epidural parturition analgesia (EPA) is commonly employed technique of providing pain relief during labour. The newer form of low-dose intermittent EPA has been in the recent studies presented as solid, according to parturitient’s wish. The main goal of our review was to strenghten the influence of this form of EPA on continuation, mode and outcome of labour.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> We have retrospectively analysed all the labours in years 2005 and 2006 in nulliparous women in labour at term with the head presentation of fetus. They were divided in two groups – with and without EPA. Analgetic mixture of EPA contained 0.1 % bupivacain and 2 µg of phentanyl/mL of local anesthetic. Main features of parturitients, duration of labour and outcomes of labour on mother and newborn were compared. We have excluded all labours with fetal breech presentation, multiple pregnancies, elective caesarean sections and all labours finished before 37th week of pregnancy.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> In nulliparous women with low-dose intermittent EPA labour was a bit longer and often finished with vacuum extraction. However level of caesarean sections was unchanged. In comparision with group without EPA the outcomes in newborns were not essentially different.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Use of low-dose intermittent EPA is acceptable and safe method of decreasing the labour pains, ensuring good outcomes in mother and newborn despite higher risk.</p>