The effects of epidural analgesia using low-concentration local anesthetic during the entire labor on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a prospective group study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to study the impact of epidural analgesia using low-concentration local anesthetic during the entire labor on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods The authors enrolled 2310 parturient mothers who underwent vaginal delivery at their hospital since January 1, 2019. The parturients were allocated either into the analgesia or into the non-analgesia groups based on whether they received analgesia during the delivery process. To investigate the effects of epidural analgesia using low-concentration local anesthetic on maternal and neonatal outcomes, the authors assessed between-group differences in the labor duration, newborn Apgar score, and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results Compared to the non-analgesia group, the first and second labor stage durations in the analgesia group were significantly longer. Similarly, the analgesia group had a higher frequency of oxytocin injections, Category II and III fetal heart rate tracing during labor, and intrapartum fever development. Further, the need for episiotomy and assisted vaginal delivery was higher in the analgesia group than that in the non-analgesia group. Regarding neonatal outcomes, the neonatal hospitalization rate and incidence rate of umbilical cord blood pH < 7.2 were higher in the analgesia group than those in the non-analgesia group. However, there were no significant between-group differences in the incidence rates of stained amniotic fluid, mild neonatal asphyxia, and severe perinatal asphyxia. Conclusion Patient-controlled epidural analgesia using low-concentration local anesthetic during the entire labor did not increase the incidence rate of severe adverse outcomes in neonates born through vaginal delivery; however, it increased the delivery duration, and thus, the chance of possible perinatal interventions.