[Does ambulation under epidural analgesia during labor modify the conditions of fetal extraction?]

We report a posteriori a study in two groups of 120 parturients having undergone a low-dose epidural analgesia while maintaining lower limb motricity. Patients in group 1 were authorized to ambulate while patients in group 2 remained in supine position. There were no between-group difference with regard to maternal status (term, age, parity, weight gain) or foetal status (weight, Apgar scores). Comparison of the two groups showed slightly higher labour duration and mean injected volume in the ambulant group. Even if the cesarian rate was the same, a significant decrease in instrumental extraction rate (31.5% vs 44.8%, p < 0.05) and episiotomy rate (50.4 % vs 66.7%, p < 0,01) was observed in the ambulant group. Patient acceptance was excellent in both groups. Those ambulant parturients having undergone a supine epidural analgesia on occasion of a previous parturition preferred this new approach.