EPIDURAL LABOUR ANALGESIA IN IZOLA GENERAL HOSPITAL
Abstract
Background. The study presents the experience with epidural analgesia (EPA) for pain relief in Izola General Hospital from 2003 to 2006, the differences of labour between epidural analgesia and without it and the parturients’ satisfaction.
Methods. A retrospective observational study was performed. Data were compared between 214 parturients with EPA matched by 214 parturients without. The control parturient was the equiipara with a term birth and the cephalic presentation of fetus that delivered just before the parturient of the EPA group. Maternal age, labor length, rate of oxitocin use, instrumental deliveries and cesarean sections, Apgar scores and birthweights were compared. The questionnaire was used to estimate the pain in 62 parturients.
Results. In GH Izola in 214 parturients (10 %) EPA was applied for labour pain relief in the period from July 2003 till December 2006. In the EPA group there was a statistically significance compared with the control group: higher parturients’ mean age (30.5 vs 28.7 y.o.; p < 0.0005), longer labour length (278 vs 222 min; p < 0.0005), higher oxitocin use rate (93.4 % vs 72.9 %; p < 0.0001) and higher instrumental delivery rate (vacuum extraction 14 % vs 1.9 %; p < 0.0001). The cesarean section rates were equal in both groups. Despite the higher instrumental delivery rate and the longer labour length in the EPA group there were no worse perinatal outcomes, neither was statisticaly significant difference in Apgar scores compared with the control group. The mean intensity of pain was highest before the EPA application (VAS 7), lowest during the transition stage (VAS 1.5) and some higher during the second phase (VAS 2.7). Most of parturients in the EPA group were satisfied; 92 % of them evaluated the EPA as good or very good.
Conclusions. EPA is a very effective method for pain control during labor. The parturients’ satisfaction with this pain control method is appropriate. Despite the higher instrumental delivery rate and the longer labour length EPA didn’t worsen the perinatal outcome.
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References
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