The effects of epidural analgesia in normal labor Hosagoudar Pradeep1,*, Vimala K R2, Bhaskar Uday3, Reddy Vallur Swetha4, Krishna L5 1Professor, Dept. of Anesthesiology, East Point College of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Bangalore, Karnataka 2Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.E.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India 3Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anesthesiology, P.E.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India 4Resident, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.E.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India 5Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.E.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, India *Corresponding Author: Email: drpaddy82@gmail.com
Online published on 3 January, 2019. Abstract Introduction Labor pain is the most severe pain a women would experience and several treatment modalities have been adopted since decades. Labor analgesia using epidural technique is considered as the efficient and effective treatment options available. Parturients in India especially rural areas are less aware regarding labor analgesia using epidural technique. Aim To study the effects of labor analgesia using epidural technique in nulliparous women. Materials and Methods Sixty full term nulliparous women with singleton vertex pregnancy were made aware of labor analgesia using epidural technique and included, those willing were grouped epidural(n=30), those not keen were grouped control(n=30). In 1st stage labor, parturients in epidural group received bupivacaine and fentanyl, whereas in control group received intramuscular Inj. tramadol, and Inj. pethidine if needed. Duration of 1st and 2nd stage labor, pain relief, maternal satisfaction, adverse effects, instrumental deliveries, 1st and 5th minute Apgar score and NICU admission were recorded. Results The mean duration of first stage labor was shorter (p=0.071) in epidural group (250.17±106.33 minutes) compared with control group (302.0±111.99 minutes) and statistically insignificant prolongation (p=0.892) (18.73±6.82 minutes) of 2nd stage labor as compared to control (18.33±14.53 minutes). Pain relief in epidural group was statistically significant (p<0.001). Instrumental delivery rate although higher in epidural group was statistically insignificant (p=1.00). The Apgar score at 1st (p=0.306) and 5th minutes (p=1.00), NICU admission rate were statistically insignificant (p=0.143) between groups. Conclusion Labor epidural analgesia using Inj.bupivacaine and Inj.fentanyl provides good pain relief, safe for mother and baby. It does not affect labor duration, instrumental delivery rate or neonatal outcome. Top Keywords Labor analgesia, Epidural, Bupivacaine, Fentanyl, Labor stages, Apgar score, NICU admission. Top |