title: Fentanyl added to bupivacaine 0.05% or ropivacaine 0.05% in patient-controlled epidural analgesia in labour.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidural analgesia is the most effective method for pain relief during labour. The aim was to elucidate the efficacy of ropivacaine 0.05% and bupivacaine 0.05%, which were both combined with fentanyl 0.00015% to provide analgesia in labour.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty nulliparous females were enrolled into the study. After insertion of an epidural catheter, patients were randomly assigned into two groups. Once the os uteri had dilated to 4-5 cm, a bolus of bupivacaine 0.125% 10mL + fentanyl 50 microg (1 mL) in Group 1 patients, and ropivacaine 0.125% 10mL + fentanyl 50 microg (1 mL) in Group 2 patients was administered via the epidural catheter. Then, patient-controlled epidural analgesia was started with a basal infusion of bupivacaine 0.05% 10 mLh(-1) + fentanyl 0.00015% 1.5 pgmL(-1) in Group 1, and ropivacaine 0.05% + fentanyl 1.5 microgmL(-1) in Group 2. When needed, a 10 mL bolus infusion could be given and the lockout time was 20 min. Maternal and fetal haemodynamic variables were monitored before induction and subsequently at 5 min intervals. Using a visual analogue scale assessed the degree of pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal haemodynamic variables and Apgar scores were not different between the two groups. The second stage of the labour was shorter in Group 2 (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in patients' assessment of motor block or mode of delivery between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An epidural infusion (10 mLh(-1)) of bupivacaine 0.05% or ropivacaine 0.05% together with fentanyl 1.5 microg mL(-1) provided good and safe analgesia during labour.
authors.affiliation: Gaziantep University, Department of Anaesthesiology, Turkey. gaziantepanestezi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pirbudak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koçoğlu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Göksu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D000077212:Ropivacaine
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D005283:Fentanyl; D002045:Bupivacaine