ATASHKHOII S, JAFARI SHOBEIRI M, NEGARGAR S. EFFECTS OF EPIDURAL ANALGESI A WITH LOW-DOSE BUPIVACAINE AND FENTANYL ON THE PROGRESS OF LABOR AND MODE OF DELIVERY. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2005; 19 (3) :207-211
URL:
http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/article-1-573-en.html
Departments of Anesthesiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, l.R. Iran. , siminatashkhoii@yahoo.com
Abstract: (4647 Views)
Background and Objective: Epidural analgesia (EA) has been used to relieve
labor pain in many obstetric units, yet controversy persists about its effect on progress
and outcome in labor. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of EA
on the rate of cervical dilation and myometrial contractility.
Methods: In a 6-month period, 36 women who received standardized EA were
matched with the next two delivering women of72 patients of the same parity who did
not receive EA. The outcome variables were uterine activity, rate of cervical dilation,
oxytocin therapy, and operative deliveries.
Results: Intermittent EA with bupivacaine and fentanyl did not result in a change
in myometrial contractility and the rate of cervical dilation. Oxytocin therapy was significantly
higher in the epidural group than in the nonepidural group (p<0.002). Operative
deliveries were not more common in those without it (p>0.0S).
Conclusion: After intermittent low-dose bupivacaine and fentanyl EA, myometrial
contractility and the ability of the uterus to dilate the cervix are maintained with
oxytocin. Despite prolongation of the second stage of labor, cesarean delivery was not
common in the epidural group.