Comparative Study of 0.1%Ropivacaine-Fentanyl with 0.1%Bupivacaine-Fentanyl Given Epidurally for Labour Analgesia

Abstract

Introduction: Addition of fentanyl to bupivacaine or ropivacaine in epidural space will increase duration and quality of analgesia with similar safety profile. Study aimed to compare epidural Inj. Bupivacaine 0.1% + Inj. Fentanyl and Inj. Ropivacaine 0.1% + Inj. Fentanyl for onset, effectiveness and duration of analgesia, to study motor blockade intensity, to study hemodynamic parameters, to study technical and drug related complications in mother and baby and to study acceptability of technique by patient. Material and methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted on 50 adult females with primigravida / multigravida full term pregnancy for epidural analgesia under ASA 1 & 2. Unpaired Student t test was used to interpret the results. Results: Patients got more pain relief and satisfaction with ropivacaine+fentanyl as compare to bupivacaine+fentanyl. Conclusions: Addition of fentanyl to bupivacaine or ropivacaine in epidural space increase duration and quality of analgesia with similar safety profile and reduce the requirement of local anesthetic drugs during labour. It did not hamper ambulation and bearing down of patient and had similar incidence of maternal and fetal outcome, with good patient satisfaction.