Second stage of labour with or without extradural analgesia

Two groups of parturients who had received selective extradural analgesia were studied. In Group A patients the regional block was allowed to wear off for the second stage of labour whereas in Group B patients' analgesia was maintained throughout labour. The maintenance of selective analgesia was of positive benefit to the mothers. They experienced much less pain, labour was not prolonged, dosage of bupivacaine was not increased, the forceps delivery rate was lower and there were fewer persistent malrotations.