A randomized comparison of levobupivacaine, bupivacaine and ropivacaine with fentanyl, for labor analgesia

• Published in: International journal of obstetric anesthesia 2008-04, Vol.17 (2), p.106-111
• Main Authors: Atiénzar, M.C, Palanca, J.M, Torres, F, Borràs, R, Gil, S, Esteve, I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Anesthesia; Adult; Amides; Analgesia, Epidural - methods; Analgesia, Obstetrical - methods; Analgesia: obstetric, epidural; Analysis of Variance; Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; Anesthetics, Combined; Anesthetics, Local; Anesthetics, local: levobupivacaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine; Bupivacaine - analogs & derivatives; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fentanyl; Humans; Labor Pain - drug therapy; Motor Activity - drug effects; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Opioids: fentanyl; Pain Measurement - statistics & numerical data; Pregnancy; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0959-289X; 1532-3374
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2007.10.003

Background To compare the analgesic efficacy of epidural infusions of levobupivacaine, bupivacaine and ropivacaine in labor. Methods 102 nulliparous parturients in early labor were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to receive one of three continuous epidural infusion regimens: levobupivacaine 0.125%, bupivacaine 0.125% or ropivacaine 0.2%, all with fentanyl 1 μg/mL at 8 mL/h. Supplementary analgesia was provided with an 8-mL epidural bolus of the study solution if visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain was ⩾40 (0-100 mm). Pain and motor and sensory block were measured at 0, 15 and 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h and full cervical dilatation. Results Analgesia was satisfactory in all three groups, with VAS score