ABSTRACT
Background: Experiencing labour pain and giving birth to infant is normal physiological process. In the present study the merits and demerits of epidural analgesia and its effect on progress of labour and its outcome is evaluated. Materials and methods: The present study on epidural analgesic technique for painless labour had been carried out at King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, in cooperation with Department of Anesthesia, King George hospital. A total number of 100 patients were studied (50 cases and 50 controls). They were divided into total two groups. GROUP – 1 (Study Group) included 50 low risk primigravida, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In this group cases received epidural analgesia. GROUP – 2 (Control Group) included 50 low risk primigravida in active phase of labour, fulfilled the inclusion criteria but were not willing for epidural analgesia. Results: 50 healthy parturient receiving epidural analgesia were compared with 50 parturient in the control group. Maximum number of parturient in both groups belong to age group of 18 to 25 years. The parturient in both groups were comparable as regards to their age distribution. Mean duration of first stage of labour in both cases and control group was compared and there was no significant difference in both groups. p value >0.05, which was non-significant. 80% of parturient in cases has pain score between 1 and 2 in control group none of the parturient has pain score of <7. Conclusions: Labour pain is associated with biochemical and physiological changes that may have adverse effects on both the mothers and the fetus. Epidural analgesia is an excellent method of relieving labour pains.