Aim: To evaluate the effect of epidural analgesia during labour on neonatal-\nmaternal outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of nulliparous\nparturients who gave birth in Västernorrland County, Sweden, over a 2-year\nperiod between 2015 and 2016. Neonatal outcomes (Apgar score at 5 min and\numbilical cord arterial blood gases), maternal outcomes (perineal injury, total\nbleeding volume and maternal satisfaction with birth) and labour parameters\n(mode of delivery and the durations of labour and postpartum hospital stay)\nwere evaluated. Results: The study cohort consisted of 1449 women with singleton\npregnancies. Patients were divided into two groups according to\nwhether during labour they were administered epidural analgesia using bupivacaine\nand sufentanil (EDA group, n = 615) or not (non-EDA group, n =\n834). The rate of assisted vaginal delivery was significantly higher in the EDA\ngroup than in the non-EDA group (15.6% and 11.3%, respectively, p < 0.05),\nwhereas the rates of caesarean section were similar. The duration of the active\nphase of labour was significantly longer in the EDA group than in the\nnon-EDA group (489 ± 217 min versus 371 ± 210 min, respectively, p <\n0.001). The Apgar score at 5 min and umbilical cord blood pH were lower\nand the base deficit greater in the EDA group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p <\n0.01, respectively). Bleeding volume was similar between the groups after adjusting\nfor gestational age. Women in the EDA group were more satisfied\nwith their labour experience, as measured by the visual analogue scale (p <\n0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that EDA affects delivery\nand neonatal-maternal outcomes negatively, but increases the motherâ??s satisfaction\nwith labour.
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