Effect of fentanyl on spinal-epidural ropivacaine block for labor analgesia

Objective To investigate the influences of different doses fentanyl added to ropivacaine on combined spinal-epidural labor analgesia. Methods Eighty nulliparous parturients in active labor,with singleton, vertex, full-term fetuses, were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups. They were injected intrathecally with 2 mg ropivacaine mixed with different doses of fentanyl as part of a combined spinal -epidural technique. The parturient controlled epidural analgesia was start when required. Visual analogue pain scale,modified Bromages scores,parturients and fetus status were assessed during labor,and side effects were also recorded. Results After intrathecal injection the labor pain was relieved in all groups. Fentanyl added to intrathecal ropivacaine decreased the onset time of analgesia and increased the mean duration by dose-dependent model ( P 0.05 ). The volume of solution used epidurally was significantly more in the group with single ropivacaine than that in those groups added fentanyl (P0.05). Conclusions Intrathecal 20μg fentanyl with 2 mg ropivaine produces rapid, profound labor analgesia. And the followed parturient controlled epidual analgesia with 1μg/ml fentanyl added to 0. 1% ropivacaine could relieve labor pain effectively with minimal side effects.