Low concentration of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil for epidural analgesia in labor

[Objective] To observe the effect of epidural analgesia with low concentration of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil in labor and the effects on neonates and gravidas.[Methods] A group of 200 primigravidas who received spontaneous labor were divided into analgesia group and control group,100 cases in each group.Analgesia group received epidural analgesia in labor.Control group did not receive analgesia.The visual analogue scale(VAS),duration of labor,degree of motor block,mode of delivery,amount of oxytocin,postpartum hemorrhage,Apgar score of neonates,level of cortisol of the two groups were observed.[Results] The VAS of active period,second stage in analgesia group were lower than those in control group(P 0.01).The active period in analgesia group reduced significantly(P 0.01),the differences in second stage and third stage were not significant.No motor block was found in the two groups.The difference in the mode of delivery,amount of oxytocin,postpartum hemorrhage and Apgar score of neonates between the two groups were not significant(P 0.05).The level of cortisol in analgesia group at the time of cervical dilation 10cm was lower than that in control group(P 0.05).[Conclusion] Low concentration of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil is suitable for epidural analgesia labor,and safe to neonates and gravidas.