ABSTRACT
This report is a clinical analysis of 3400 cases of continuous epidural block for labour and delivery during the period of January 1985 to April 1988. Among the 3400 parturients, there were 2230 nulliparas and 1070 multiparas. From January 1985 to April 1988, total numbers of vaginal delivery were 6724 cases and epidural block were perfomred in 55.1% of the parturients for the relief of pain during labour. Drugs used for epidural block were 0.25%, 0.375%, 0.5% bupivacaine mixed with epinephrine(1:300,000) and 1.5% lidocaine mixed with epinephrine(1:300,000). Effect of pain relief was good in 90% of epidural blocks, fair in 9% and poor in 1%, 53 parturients were undergone cesarean section during the epidural analgesia due to induction failure, prolonged 2nd stage and fetal distress. Complications were recorded i.e. dural puncture(38 cases), headache(26 cases), backache(58 cases), high spinal anesthesia(2 cases), hypotension(35 cases), shivering(32 cases) and burn(1 case). According to our experiences we have obtained the following results. 1) There were little adverse clinical resctions on mothers and fetuses. 2) The progress of labour was insignificantly delayed with our procedures and drugs used for analgesia. 3) The number of parturients have increased gradually since we have started painless delivery in January 1985.