title: Comparison of intermittent and continuous epidural analgesia on delivery and progression of labour.
abstract: In this study, 205 nulliparous parturients were enrolled to receive either intermittent (n = 101) or continuous (n = 104) type of epidural analgesia in labour. The primary outcome was rate of caesarean deliveries, whereas secondary outcomes included rate of fundal pressure manoeuvres, duration of labour from application of analgesia, dose of anaesthetic and short-term maternal and neonatal outcome between two groups. Rate of caesarean deliveries was significantly increased in the continuous group (15/104 vs 5/101, p = 0.02), as well as rate of fundal pressure manoeuvres (24/104 vs 11/101, p = 0.02) and dose of fentanyl (100 [100-300] vs 187.5 [125-450] μg, p < 0.001 and levobupivacaine (40 [40-60] vs 75 [50-90] ml, p < 0.001). Duration of labour from analgesia to delivery was not significantly different between the two groups (414 ± 101 vs 432 ± 94 min, p = 0.12).
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skrablin
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grgic
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mihaljevic
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blajic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D005283:Fentanyl; D002045:Bupivacaine