Painless delivery--a short experience

To determine efficacy and safety a randomized comparison of continuous infusion versus intermittent injection of epidural bupivacaine for labor analgesia was performed in the Maternity Hospital, Thapathali Kathmandu.

Twenty healthy parturient received a loading dose of 10 ml of epidural 0.1% bupivacaine with 25 mg of pethidine. They were then randomized to receive continuous infusion of 0.1% bupivacaine 10 ml/hour with the help of infusion pump or intermittent injection of 0.1% bupivacaine 10 ml hourly. For breakthrough pain 10 ml of 0.1% bupivacaine top ups given in both groups. The two groups were compared for analgesic efficacy, mode of delivery, patient assessment of analgesia, motor block and other complications. Data analyzed in Pentium III version with SPSS and statistical significance test is done with independent samples t-test.

The 10 patients in each group were comparable in age but not in parity. Analgesic efficacy was excellent in 10 cases and comfortable in another 10 cases [excellent/comfortable 6:4 with infusion and 4:6 with intermittent injection]. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in pain scores or duration of active first or second stage of labor. Fifteen women had spontaneous vaginal deliveries, one caesarian section (infusion group) and four instrumental deliveries (intermittent injection group). Four women in the infusion group had hypotension and motor block, but none in the intermittent injection group. APGAR scores in both groups were 7-8/10 at 1 minute and 9-10/10 at 5 minutes.

Both continuous infusion and intermittent injection of low dose bupivacaine are very good methods of relieving labor pain in our context. Analgesic efficacy was similar in both groups and there was no prolongation of second stage of labor.