Does the station of the fetal head during epidural analgesia affect labor and delivery?

Objective: To assess whether the station of the fetal head when lumbar epid ural analgesia is administered influences the duration or the mode of deliv ery in low-risk laboring women. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 131 con secutive cases of low-risk parturients at term who requested intrapartum ep idural analgesia. Obstetric outcome of 65 parturients who underwent epidura l analgesia when the fetal head was low in the birth canal was compared to 66 patients whose fetal head station was above the ischial spine. Results: Both groups were similar in their obstetric characteristics. Cervical dilat ation when performing the epidural analgesia was similar in both groups. Th e duration of labor and mode of delivery, as well as percentage of malposit ions, were not significantly different in the two groups. Conclusions: The station of the fetal head while initiating epidural analgesia does not infl uence the duration of labor or the mode of delivery. Therefore, there is no justification to delay epidural analgesia in labor until the presenting fe tal part is engaged. (C) 1999 International Federation of Gynecology and Ob stetrics.