Epidural analgesia in latent phase of labor for preeclamptic women attempting vaginal delivery

Abstract

Objective \nTo evaluate the efficacy of epidural analgesia in latent phase of labor for preeclamptic women undergoing vaginal delivery. \n \n \nMethods \nA prospective study was conducted on 80 nulliparae of singleton pregnancy with preeclampsia and cephalic presentation in Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics from August 2016 to July 2017. All subjects were randomly divided into two groups including labor analgesia in active phase group (labor analgesia was commenced at cervical dilation over≥4 cm, n=40, group 1) and the whole labor analgesia in latent phase group (labor analgesia was comenced at the onset of labor, n=40, group 2). Visual analogue score (VAS) was used to evaluate pain intensity at different time points. Maternal venous blood samples were collected at the time of parturient and fetal delivery to determine the serum concentrations of cortisol (Cor) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical data was statistically analyzed using t-test or Chi-square test. \n \n \nResults \n(1) Compared with group 1, the duration of the first stage of labor [(521.3±103.5) vs (570.3±116.2) min, t=0.366, P<0.05], the VAS scores immediately after analgesic administration and at cervical dilation of 2 and 3 cm [4.1±1.1 vs 7.3±1.2, 3.5±0.9 vs 7.6±1.7, 3.7±0.7 vs 8.1±1.4; t=4.387, 9.652, 5.321; all P<0.05], the mean arterial pressure at cervical dilation of 2 and 3 cm [(98.3±9.1) vs (125.3±10.6) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (98.6±10.4) vs (127.5±9.6) mmHg; t=8.014, 5.496; both P<0.05] and the cesarean delivery rate [15.0% (6/40) vs 27.5% (11/40), χ2=4.012, P<0.05] were all lower in group 2. (2) The serum levels of Cor [(565±76) vs (231±64) nmol/L, (457±79) vs (233±55) nmol/L; t=6.028, 5.126; both P<0.05] and ACTH [(81±14) vs (38±11) pg/ml, (71±16) vs (39±10) pg/ml, t=5.984, 6.028; both P<0.05] in group 1 and group 2 were both increased significantly after delivery as compared with those at the time of parturient, and they also showed significant differences between the two groups after delivery (t=5.009, 3.862; both P<0.05). \n \n \nConclusions \nEpidural analgesia in latent phase of labor can be implemented in preeclamptic women attempting vaginal delivery through alleviating labor pain as sooner and earlier as possible, reducing their stress responses and maintain hemodynamic stability. \n \n \nKey words: \nPre-eclampsia;\xa0Analgesia, epidural;\xa0Analgesia, obstetrical;\xa0Natural childbirth;\xa0Labor stage, first