Does early administration of epidural analgesia affect obstetric outcome in nulliparous women who are in spontaneous labor?
Author(s): Chestnut DH, McGrath JM, Vincent RD Jr, Penning DH, Choi WW, Bates JN, McFarlane C Affiliation(s): Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City. Publication date & source: 1994-06, Anesthesiology., 80(6):1201-8. Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial BACKGROUND: Some studies suggest that epidural analgesia prolongs labor and increases the incidence of cesarean section, especially if it is administered before 5 cm cervical dilation. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether early administration of epidural analgesia affects obstetric outcome in nulliparous women who are in spontaneous labor. METHODS: Informed consent was obtained from 344 healthy nulliparous women with a singleton fetus in a vertex presentation, who requested epidural analgesia during spontaneous labor at at least 36 weeks’ gestation. Each patient was randomized to receive either early or late epidural analgesia. Randomization occurred only
