Résumé
The most interesting change in anesthetic technic for pain relief during labor and delivery has been the widespread acceptance of continuous lumber epidural analgesia. Primary effect of epidural analgesia is to relieve pain and therapy to preserve the morale and to prevent exhaustion of the mother. For the past year in our hospital, continuous lumbar epidural analgesia was attempted on 38 pregnant women and its effect was assessed. In established labor, epidural analgesia was started for pain relief and was maintained with intermittent injections until delivery; in 45% the duration exceeded six hours. Labor was slightly retarded, probably due to inadvertent selection of patients with slow and painful progress. Vacuum extraction was used in 52.6%. Fetal condition was excellent(Apgar score of 7 or greater in 97.4%). Continuous epidural analgesia gives superior relief of pain but cells for experienced management and nursing care.