Epidural analgesia in labor in relation to the rate of instrumental deliveries

Aims & Objectives: To study the effect of epidural analgesia (EA) in labour on the rate of instrumental deliveries Study Design: Clinical Trial / Case Control study. Study Settings: Labour ward of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore during one year period from July 2002 to June 2003. Patients and Methods: One hundred women in labor at term were divided into two equal groups. Group-I comprised of those women who were provided with epidural analgesia while group-II consisted of those women who had labour without the block. The anesthetist provided epidural analgesia using 0.125% bupivacaine and the obstetrician or midwife gave intermittent top-ups. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures were the effect of epidural analgesia on the duration of second stage of labor and the rate of instrumental deliveries. The data was collected on a pre-designed proforma and was analyzed on computer software (SPSS). Ratio and proportions were calculated and Chi-square test was used to check significant association between the groups. P