[Scientific evidence on labor duration from systematic reviews].
OBJECTIVE
We examined the evidence of systematic reviews in the Cochrane Library on interventions that influence the duration of labor.


METHODS
Of the 208 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth systematic reviews, 69 deal with labor and birth of which 20 address the effect of intrapartum interventions. We analyzed the reviews with respect to those interventions that affected the duration of birth.


RESULTS
Six reviews, related to 5 interventions (amniotomy, epidural analgesia, continuous support, amnioinfusion, and maternal position), reported a significant effect on the duration of labor. Six found no significant effect on labor duration. The remaining eight reviews did not assess the effect of the intervention on labor duration.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions that have a significant influence on labor duration may interact with each other. Therefore, perinatal databases should ascertain not only if but also when an intervention has been performed.
Gross
M M
MM
Frauenklinik der MHH im Oststadtkrankenhaus Hannover. Gross.Mechtild@mh-hannover.de
Antes
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D000328:Adult; D000650:Amnion; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011187:Posture; D011247:Pregnancy; D011677:Punctures; D013997:Time Factors