Key result
Epidural anaesthesia during labour was associated with a decreased spontaneous delivery rate (50.0% vs 79.2%) and increased forceps delivery (30.7% vs 4.0%) compared to no or other analgesia.
Why the study?
Does epidural anaesthesia influence surgical delivery rates, intrapartum fever, and blood loss in labour?
Cohort (n=7,317)
Does epidural anaesthesia influence surgical delivery rates, intrapartum fever, and blood loss in labour?
Absolute Event Rate: 50% vs 79.2%
Epidural anaesthesia during labour is associated with higher rates of instrumental deliveries, intrapartum fever, and hemorrhage, but does not significantly increase caesarean section rates.
Should not yet change labour analgesia practice; leaves open causal effects on delivery mode.
We retrospectively analyzed 7,317 fully documented deliveries to assess the effect of epidural anaesthesia (EA) on surgical delivery rates, on the incidence of intrapartum fever and on peripartal blood loss. 1,056 (14.4%) had EA and 6,261 (85.6%) had no or other analgesia. The use of EA was associated with a decreased spontaneous delivery rate (50.0 vs. 79.2%), increased forceps delivery rate (30.7 vs. 4.0%) and increased vacuum extraction rate (3.5 vs. 0.7%). The caesarean section rate was not significantly changed in patients with EA (14.4 vs. 13.0%). Fever greater than 38 degrees C during labour and intrapartum haemorrhage exceeding 500 ml were associated with the use of EA.
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Ploeckinger et al. (2010) conducted a cohort in Labour (n=7,317). Epidural anaesthesia vs. No or other analgesia was evaluated on Spontaneous delivery rate. Epidural anaesthesia during labour was associated with a decreased spontaneous delivery rate (50.0% vs 79.2%) and increased forceps delivery (30.7% vs 4.0%) compared to no or other analgesia.
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