Efficacy and delivery outcomes of women underwent double-catheter epidural block during labor / 中华妇产科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the efficacy and pregnancy outcomes of women receiving double-catheter epidural block in labor analgesia, and compare the results with single-catheter epidural block.Methods A double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 206 full-term singleton primiparas, aged 25-35 and at the 37 -42 weeks of gestation who delivered at the Department of Obstetrics, Qingdao Municipal Hospital from August 2006 to December 2008, which were randomly divided into two groupsdouble-catheter epidural block ( group D, n = 103) and single-catheter epidural-block ( group S, n = 103 ).Women in group D were given mixture of 0.1% repivacaine hydrochloride and 0.5 mg/L sufentinil 4 -6 ml as initial dose.Patient control epidural analgesia pump (PCEA) was connected with the upper catheter after 45 minutes.A bolus dose of 4 -6 ml analgesia mixture was infused according to the condition through the lower catheter.Women in group S received analgesia mixture 10 - 15 ml as initial dose and PCEA pump was connected after 45 minutes.Oxytocin was infused in both groups according to uterine contraction after 30 minutes.The following indexes was observed ( 1 ) visual analogue scales (VAS); (2) modified Bromage Scores;(3) the total dose of analgesia mixture, the percentage of oxytocin infusion, duration of labor and duration of the second stage of labor; (4) fetal birth weight and Apgar scores( 1,5 minutes); (5) mode of delivery; (6) the concentration of plasma cortisol and angiotension Ⅱ at the beginning of regular uterine contraction and at the time when cervical dilated to 4 cm and 10 cm and fetal disengagement; (7)anesthesia-related complications.Results ( 1 )The neonatal birth weight and Apgar scores ( 1,5 minutes)of group D were (3456 ±468)g, 9.8 ±0.6 and 9.9 ±0.7, respectively, while(3399 ±569) g, 9.8 ±0.5 and 9.9 ±0.7 in group S( P ＞0.05).No motor function block was reported in any group and the modified Bromage score was zero.(2) The total dose of analgesia mixture in group D was similar to that in group S [(57 ±9) ml vs.(58 ±11) ml, P＞0.05].However, the percentage of women received oxytocin in group D was smaller [59.2% (61/103) vs.81.6% (84/103), P ＜ 0.01], and the total time of labor and the duration of second stage of labor in group D were shorter[(532 ± 140) minutes vs.(608 ± 150) minutes;(46 ± 31 ) minutes vs.(60 ± 34) minutes, P ＜ 0.05].(3) There were no significant differences in VAS at 30 minutes after initial dose and in the first stage of labor between group D and S ( 1.2 ± 1.1 vs 1.2 ± 1.1,1.1 ± 1.1 vs.1.2 ± 1.0, P＞0.05).VAS at the second stage of labor stage was lower in group D than in group S ( 1.2 ± 1.1 vs.4.5 ± 2.2, P ＜ 0.01 ).(4) The rate of cesarean section, instrumental delivery and episiotomy in group D were lower than in group S (7.8% vs.17.5%, 7.8% vs.15.5%, 10.7% vs.18.4%, P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of fetal distress and meconium-stained amniotic fluid as the indication of cesarean section were similar between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05 ).Lower incidence of fetal malpresentation and arrested second stage of labor were shown in group D than in group S (2.9% vs.9.7%, 1.0% vs.5.8%, P ＜ 0.05 ).(5) The concentration of plasma cortisol and angiotension Ⅱ were lower in group D than in group S [(86 ±25) ng/L vs.( 100 ±20) ng/L, (278 ±53) nmol/L vs.(311 ±53)nmol/L, P＜0.05] only at the end of second stage of labor, but not at any other times(P ＞0.05).(6) No serious anesthesia-related complications were reported in any groups.Some light backache around the puncture point were complained by 29.1% (30/103) of the women in group D and 31.1% (32/103) in group S(P ＞0.05).Conclusion Double-catheter epidural block can provide better analgesia effect during labor than single-catheter epidural block, without any adverse influence on delivery outcomes.