Impact of Low-Dose Epidural Analgesia on Labour Progression in Low-Risk Women

Institute of Hospitalization and Scientific Care (IRCCS)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Epidural Analgesia, Obstetric

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06987591

6077

Details and patient eligibility

About

Aim of the study was to analyse data on cervical dilation and fetal descent patterns in low-risk women, who did or did not receive intermittent low-dose epidural analgesia (EA), and who had either a vaginal or a caesarean delivery.

Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis, retrieving data from October 1st 2008 to October 31st 2018. We selected 6030 women categorized as Robson Group 1, divided into four groups according to the mode of delivery (vaginal or caesarean) and the presence of EA:

• Vaginal delivery with EA (VD-e)
• Vaginal delivery without EA (VD-n)
• Caesarean delivery with EA (CD-e)
• Caesarean delivery without EA (CD-n)

Enrollment: 5,995 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Robson class 1 (nulliparous, single, cephalic full-term pregnancy with spontaneous labour)
• maternal age between 18 and 40 years
• neonatal weight between 2500 and 4000 grams
• cervical dilation <7 cm at admission in the delivery suite

Exclusion criteria

• minimal duration of labour < 3 hours (from admission to the delivery suite to delivery)

Trial design

5,995 participants in 4 patient groups

VD-e

Description:

Women who vaginally delivered and received EA for labour.

VD-n

Description:

Women who vaginally delivered and did not receive EA for labour.

CD-e

Description:

Women who delivered via intrapartum caesarean section and received EA for labour.

CD-n

Description:

Women who delivered via intrapartum caesarean section and did not receive EA for labour.