[Study of parturient-controlled epidural blockade for labor analgesia]

To explore the feasibility of parturient-controlled epidural blockade for labor analgesia, 44 primiparas requesting labor analgesia (Group I) were selected for testing the above method according to the ASA (American Society of Anesthesiology) Class I or II. Forty-six primiparas were selected as control (Group II). The conditions of control group were similar to those of Group I in all aspects except labor analgesia. The results showed that in Group I labor pain was significantly relieved 5 minutes after anesthesia, and almost eliminated 15 minutes after anesthesia; 95% parturients achieved adequate analgesia. Systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate were significantly decreased 5 minutes after anesthesia but still in normal range. The uterine contraction, labor process, delivery mode, postpartum hemorrhage, side effects and neonatal Apgar's score had no significant difference between the two groups. It is suggested that the parturient-controlled epidural blockade is efficiently applied to labor analgesia.