Effect of epidural analgesia on duration and outcome of induced labor

Objective: To evaluate the effect of epidural block on the duration of labor and maternal and fetal outcome in induced-labor patients. Method: 210 women admitted for induction of labor at a level III university hospital, during the year 1991, were studied. Of these, 112 were given an epidural block and 98 served as controls. Outcome measures studied were: induction time and time in labor, c-section and instrumental delivery rates, intra-partum and post-partum complications, and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min. Result: Multiple regression analysis revealed that epidural analgesia, before and after adjustment for confounding factors, significantly prolonged labor time (P < 0.0001) and was associated with an increase in instrumental delivery rates (P < 0.04). A significant reduction in intra-partum complication rate (FHR changes, meconium) was observed (OR = 0.32; P < 0.03), while c-section rate and Apgar scores were not found to be influenced by epidural analgesia. Conclusion: Epidural anesthesia, significantly prolongs labor time in induced patients. While instrumental delivery was more prevalent in these parturients, c-section rate was not increased and intra-partum complications were significantly reduced in these patients.