OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of epidural analgesia on the duration of labor stages and the delivery outcome.

METHODSThis prospective study was conducted in 328 nulliparous term parturients presenting for delivery in December 1 to 31, 2011. The parturients were assigned into epidural analgesia group (n=162) and control group (n=166) according to their request when no contraindications were present. The stage I, stage II, and total duration of labor, volume blood loss, oxytocin use, delivery mode, and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSIn epidural analgesia group, the duration of stage I and stage II labor and the total duration of labor was 497.9∓168.4 min, 54.3∓43.8 min, and 522.1∓178.9 min, respectively, significantly longer than those in the control group (404.2∓156.0 min, 31.5∓19.8 min, and 435.8∓159.2 min, respectively, P≤0.05). No significant difference was found between the two groups in the rates of oxytocin use, emergency cesarean section, instrumental delivery, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and low Apgar scores (P≥0.05).

CONCLUSIONEpidural analgesia prolongs the labor duration, especially the second stage of labor, but it does not increase the incidences of emergency cesarean section or instrumental delivery or cause adverse effect on the neonatal outcome, and is therefore safe for pain relief in labor.