Comparative Study of the Loading Dose Administrated Via Epidural Needle or Epidural Catheter for Labor Analgesia

The epidural analgesia was performed in the left lateral decubitus position at the L3-L4 or L2-L3 interspace using a 18 G Tuohy needle. The epidural space was accessed by the loss of resistance to air or saline (2ml or less) technique.

In the epidural needle group, after identification of epidural space, a dose of 3 ml of 0.1%ropivacaine with 0.3ug/ml sufentanil was given via the epidural needle ,3 minutes later labor analgesia was initiated with 15ml of 0.1 ropivacaine with 0.3ug/ml sufentanil over 30 seconds via the epidural needle, and then the catheter was inserted 3-5cm into the epidural space. In the epidural catheter group, the catheter was inserted 3-5cm into the epidural space after identification of epidural space, a dose of 3 ml of 0.1% ropivacaine with 0.3ug/ml sufentanil was given via the epidural catheter, 3minutes later labor analgesia was initiated with 15ml of 0.1%ropivacaine with 0.3ug/ml sufentanil as the same of group N.

Inclusion criteria

• healthy, term (37-42 weeks' gestation),
• nulliparous women with singleton
• patients in active labor with a cervical dilation <5cm who planned labor analgesia

Exclusion criteria

• any contraindication to neuraxial anesthesia,
• body mass index>50kg/m2,
• VAS <50mm on a 100-mm visual analog pain scales during an active contraction, 4. pregnancy-related diseases (ie, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia),

• the participants were in the event of an inadvertent dural puncture using the epidural needle, 6.fetal heart abnormity before labor analgesia.