Objective: To observe the rate of instrumental delivery in parturients having Epidural
Analgesia in labour and its effects on duration of labour.
Methods: This comparative cross sectional study was conducted in Shifa Foundation
Community Health Center and Shifa International hospital after approval from Ethical
Committee and Institutional Review Board. Out of 156 parturient included, 78 patients
had Epidural Analgesia for labour and 78 did not. Epidural was administered with
cervical dilatation less than 5 cm or when the contractions became regular. All women in
labour were at term and preterm deliveries were excluded. Duration of second stage of
labour was recorded and mode of delivery was noted.
Results: In 78 patients undergoing epidural analgesia, mean duration of second stage of
labour was 22 minutes. Thirty nine percent patients had spontaneous vaginal delivery
(N=31), 28% were delivered by vacuum (N=32), 10% had forceps delivery (N=7) and
remaining 23% patients had C-section (N=18). In 78 patients who did not have Epidural
analgesia, mean duration of second stage of labour was 11.34 minutes. Fifty two percent
patients had spontaneous vaginal delivery (N=41), 5.1% delivered by vacuum (N=4),
6.4% had forceps delivery (N=5) and 35.9% patients had C-section (N=28).
Conclusion: Our study revealed that epidural analgesia is associated with an increased
risk of instrumental vaginal delivery and prolonged second stage of labour. (Rawal Med J
2009;34:86-88).
Key words: Parturient, epidural analgesia, second stage of labour, instrumental vaginal
delivery.
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