Biomedical Research

Objective: Toinvestigatetheanalgesic effect of dexmedetomidine in epidural anesthesia for labor analgesia.

Methods: 150 nulliparous patients were randomly divided into two groups with 75 cases each: ropivacaine group (R) and ropivacaine+dexmedetomidinegroup (R+Y). R group received analgesia with 0.1% ropivacaine and R+Y group received 0.1% ropivacaine and 0.5 μg/ml dexmedetomidine. The background infusion 10 ml/h, bonus 5 ml, lockout time 20 min. Vital signs, VAS of pain, progress of labor, neonatal Apgar score, postpartum haemorrhage amount, side effects and serum level of IL-6 and TNF-α were recorded.

Results: Heart rate and mean arterial pressure of two groups were decreased after analgesia, but still in the normal range. The total stage of labor of R group was (608.2 ± 98.4 min) longer than the R+Y group. Two groups of total labor have a significant difference, especially in the first and second labor. The VAS score of the two groups all decreased after analgesia, score of R+Y group was lower than the other. There were no significant differences in the side effects, postpartum haemorrhage amount and neonatal Apgar score between the two groups. The serum level of IL-6 and TNF-α in R+Y group were lower than the R group in childbirth and 24 h after it.

Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine used for epidural anesthesia on labor analgesia has high effect and safety. It can promote the progress of labor without severe side effects. Combination of ropivacaine +dexmedetomidine is better medicine mode for labor analgesia.

Author(s): Wang Jun, An Zhengzhuang, Ou Li
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