A Comparative Study of 0.125% Ropivacaine With Fentanyl 2 McG/Ml Versus 0.125% Bupivacaine With Fentanyl 2mcg/Ml for Labour Epidural Analgesia

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThis study was undertaken to determine whether epidural analgesia is superior to all methods of pain relief for labour. Previous studies compared different concentrations of local anaesthetics epidurally with or without additives. Here ropivacaine is compared because, it is a new long acting amide local anaesthetic agent which is less lipophilic than bupivacaine and is less likely to penetrate large myelinated motor fibres, resulting in relatively reduced motor blockade. The reduced lipophilicity is associated with decreased potential of central nervous system toxicity and cardiotoxicity. Because of its favourable pharmacokinetic profile, the ropivacaine is chosen for labour epidural in comparison with bupivacaine. Aims and Objectives-to compare smaller concentration of epidural ropivacaine with bupivacaine in intermittent doses for obstetric analgesia by adding fentanyl to ropivacaine and bupivacaine solutions.