EFFECT OF EPIDURAL ANALGESIA ON DURATION AND OUTCOME OF INDUCED LABOR

Objective: To evaluate the effect of epidural block on the duration of labor and maternal and fetal outcome in induced-labor patients. Metho d: 210 women admitted for induction of labor at a level III university hospital, during the year 1991, were studied. Of these, 112 were give n an epidural block and 98 served as controls. Outcome measures studie d were: induction time and time in labor, c-section and instrumental d elivery rates, intra-partum and post-partum complications, and Apgar s cores at 1 and 5 min. Result: Multiple regression analysis revealed th at epidural analgesia, before and after adjustment for confounding fac tors, significantly prolonged labor time (P < 0.0001) and was associat ed with an increase in instrumental delivery rates (P < 0.04). A signi ficant reduction in intra-partum complication rate (FHR changes, mecon ium) was observed (OR = 0.32; P < 0.03), while c-section rate and Apga r scores were not found to be influenced by epidural analgesia. Conclu sion. Epidural anesthesia, significantly prolongs labor time in induce d patients. While instrumental delivery was more prevalent in these pa rturients, c-section rate was not increased and intra-partum complicat ions were significantly reduced in these patients. (C) 1997 Internatio nal Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.