Advances in epidural labor analgesia:Effectiveness and treatment strategies of butorphanol

In this editorial,we provide a critical review of the article by Tang et al published in the World J Clin Cases,focusing on the utilization of butorphanol for epidural analgesia during labor.Our discussion encompasses recent research developments in epidural labor analgesia,specifically highlighting the current status of clinical applications of butorphanol and associated treatment approaches.Epidural analgesia is widely acknowledged as the primary method for pain management during labor,offering effective and prolonged pain relief while allowing mothers to remain alert and actively participate in the delivery process.Among the various drugs utilized for epidural labor analgesia,butorphanol has received increasing attention due to its potential efficacy and distinctive pharmacological properties.As a synthetic opioid analgesic,butorphanol exhibits both agonistic and antagonistic activity on opioid receptors,striking a balance between analgesia and minimizing side effects.Nevertheless,the safety and efficacy of butorphanol in epidural labor analgesia remains controversial.While certain studies have reported positive outcomes with butorphanol,including effective pain relief and a reduced incidence of side effects,others have raised concerns about its safety and efficacy compared to traditional opioids or alternative analgesics.In addition,the optimal dosing strategy and regimen of butorphanol as an adjuvant in epidural labor analgesia still need to be verified.Through comprehensive synthesis and analysis of existing literature,we aim to evaluate the current evidence regarding the use of butorphanol for epidural labor analgesia,delineate areas of consensus and controversy,and propose future avenues for research and clinical practice in this domain.

Safety and effectiveness of butorphanol in epidural labor analgesia:A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Epidural analgesia is the most effective analgesic method during labor.Butorphanol administered epidurally has been shown to be a successful analgesic method during labor.However,no comprehensive study has examined the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.AIM To assess butorphanol's safety and efficacy for epidural labor analgesia.METHODS The PubMed,Cochrane Library,EMBASE,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,and Google Scholar databases will be searched from inception.Other types of literature,such as conference abstracts and references to pertinent reviews,will also be reviewed.We will include randomized controlled trials comparing butorphanol with other opioids combined with local anesthetics for epidural analgesia during labor.There will be no language restrictions.The primary outcomes will include the visual analog scale score for the first stage of labor,fetal effects,and Apgar score.Two independent reviewers will evaluate the full texts,extract data,and assess the risk of bias.Publication bias will be evaluated using Egger's or Begg's tests as well as visual analysis of a funnel plot,and heterogeneity will be evaluated using the Cochran Q test,P values,and I2 values.Meta-analysis,subgroup analysis,and sensitivity analysis will be performed using RevMan software version 5.4.This protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)Protocols statement,and the PRISMA statement will be used for the systematic review.RESULTS This study provides reliable information regarding the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.CONCLUSION To support clinical practice and development,this study provides evidence-based findings regarding the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.

Application of dezocine patient-controlled epidural analgesia in postoperative analgesia in patients with total myomectomy

BACKGROUND Uterine fibroids are common benign gynecological conditions.Patients who experience excessive menstruation,anemia,and pressure symptoms should be administered medication,and severe cases require a total hysterectomy.This procedure is invasive and causes severe postoperative pain,which can affect the patient’s postoperative sleep quality and,thus,the recovery process.AIM To evaluate use of dezocine in patient-controlled epidural analgesia(PCEA)for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing total myomectomy.METHODS We selected 100 patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy for uterine fibroids and randomized them into two groups:A control group receiving 0.2%ropivacaine plus 0.06 mg/mL of morphine and an observation group receiving 0.2%ropivacaine plus 0.3 mg/mL of diazoxide in their PCEA.Outcomes assessed included pain levels,sedation,recovery indices,PCEA usage,stress factors,and sleep quality.RESULTS The observation group showed lower visual analog scale scores,shorter postoperative recovery indices,fewer mean PCEA compressions,lower cortisol and blood glucose levels,and better polysomnographic parameters compared to the control group(P<0.05).The cumulative incidence of adverse reactions was lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Dezocine PCEA can effectively control the pain associated with total myomectomy,reduce the negative impact of stress factors,and have less impact on patients’sleep,consequently resulting in fewer adverse effects.

Butorphanol in epidural:Could this be the breakthrough solution for safe and effective labor analgesia that we've been waiting for?

The authors have conducted a comprehensive investigation into the safety and effectiveness of butorphanol for epidural analgesia during labor.Their critical analysis of the paper and discussion of the technique's advantages and disadvantages provide a thorough understanding of the topic.

A systematic Review of the Safety and Effectiveness of Epidural Analgesia for Labor Analgesia

Objective To re-evaluate the systematic review of the safety and effectiveness of epidural analgesia(EA)for labor analgesia.Methods The Cochrane database,PubMed,EMBASE,EBSCO,Web of Science,ScienceDirect,China Biomedical Literature database,CNKI,Wanfang and VIP databases were searched,and the search time was limited to August 2020.Two researchers screened the literature and extracted data according to the inclusion criteria.AMSTAR was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies.Pain intensity and pain relief satisfaction were used as the main indicators for re-evaluation of the effectiveness.Midwifery rate,cesarean section rate,back pain,fever,nausea and vomiting,umbilical artery pH value,and newborn Apgar score were used as the main indicators to re-evaluate the safety.Results and Conclusion A total of 9 meta-analyses were included.The safety and effectiveness of EA and opioid intravenous analgesia,acupuncture stimulation,inhalation analgesia,no analgesia,and continuous delivery were evaluated separately.The included systematic reviews showed that EA could increase the rate of device-assisted delivery,causing maternal fever,and prolonging the first and second stages of labor.But the incidence of back pain,nausea,and vomiting was lower.Therefore,analgesia had a good effect with better satisfactory degree.Current evidence shows that EA is safe and effective for labor analgesia,but the quality of the reports of current studies is not high.

Effects of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia on anxiety,labor analgesia and motor blocks in women during natural delivery

BACKGROUND The background of this study was analgesia in natural delivery.The combined spinal-epidural anesthesia has obvious analgesic effect on the parturients in natural labor,and combined spinal-epidural anesthesia has been widely used in anesthesia for various diseases.AIM To study the effects of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia on anxiety,labor analgesia,and motor blocks in parturients during natural delivery.METHODS A total of 120 women who gave birth at Changning District Maternal and Child Health Hospital between December 2021 to December 2022 were included;a random number table approach was employed to divide the women into a control group and a joint group,with each group consisting of 60 women.The control group was given epidural anesthesia,while the joint group was given combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.The visual analog scale(VAS)was used to evaluate the degree of maternal pain.Comparisons were made between the two groups’conditions of childbirth and the duration of labor.Apgar scores were used to evaluate the status of the newborns at birth;Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and General Self-Efficacy Scale(GSES)scores,umbilical artery blood gas analysis indices and stress indices were compared between the two groups;and the frequencies of motor block and postpartum complications were analyzed.RESULTS In comparison to the control group,in the joint group,the VAS scores for the first,second,and third stages of labor were lower(P<0.05).The rates of conversion to cesarean section and postpartum blood loss in the joint group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).No significant differences were observed in the Apgar score,the duration of the first stage of labor,or the total duration of labor between the two groups(P>0.05).The second and third stages of labor in the joint group were shorter than those in the control group(P<0.05).When compared to the control group,the postpartum SAS score of the joint group was lower,while the GSES score was greater(P<0.05).Between the control group and the joint group,the differences observed in pH,arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure,arterial oxygen partial pressure,or arterial hydrogen ion concentration were not significant(P>0.05).Nitric oxide,cortisol,and adrenaline levels were lower in the joint group than in the control group(P<0.05).There were no substantial differences in Bromage grade or rate of complications between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION For parturients during natural delivery,combined spinal-epidural anesthesia can reduce anxiety,provide labor analgesia,shorten labor time,and reduce postoperative stress levels but did not result in a motor block.

Preprocedure ultrasound imaging combined with palpation technique in epidural labor analgesia

BACKGROUND For parturients with paroxysmal uterine contraction pain,rapid analgesia is needed.We used preprocedure ultrasound imaging combined with the palpation technique in epidural analgesia for labor,and evaluated the usefulness of this technique in epidural labor analgesia.AIM To evaluate the usefulness of preprocedure ultrasound imaging in epidural analgesia for labor.METHODS In this prospective randomized observational study,72 parturients were assigned to two groups(combined or palpation group).The target interspace of all parturients was first identified by the palpation technique.Then in the combined group,preprocedure ultrasound imaging was used before epidural puncture.In the palpation group,only the traditional anatomical landmarks technique(palpation technique)was performed.The primary outcome was total duration of the epidural procedure(for the ultrasound group,the duration of the preprocedure ultrasound imaging was included).The secondary outcomes were the number of skin punctures,the success rate at first needle pass,the number of needle passes,the depth from the skin to epidural space,and the complications of the procedure.RESULTS Total duration of the epidural procedure was similar between the two groups(406.5±92.15 s in the combined group and 380.03±128.2 s in the palpation group;P=0.318).A significant improvement was demonstrated for epidural puncture and catheterization in the combined group.The number of needle passes was 1.14 in the combined group and 1.72 in the palpation group(P=0.001).The number of skin puncture sites was 1.20 in the combined group and 1.25 in the palpation group(P=0.398).The success rate at first needle pass was 88.89%in the combined group and 66.67%in the palpation group(P=0.045).CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the total duration of epidural procedures with preprocedure ultrasound imaging combined with the palpation technique was not longer than the traditional anatomical landmarks technique,which were performed by six experienced anesthesiologists in parturients with normal weights undergoing labor analgesia.

A Comparative Study on Safety and Efficacy of Caudal, Thoracic Epidural and Intra Venous Analgesia in Paediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Double Blind Randomised Trial

Introduction:Regional anaesthesia combined with general anaesthesia reduces stress response to surgery, duration of ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay and promotes early recovery. Studies on thoracic epidural, caudal analgesia along with general anaesthesia (GA) in paediatric cardiac surgery are limited hence we aimed to compare efficacy and safety of caudal, thoracic epidural and intravenous analgesia in paediatric cardiac surgery. Methodology: This study was conducted in the Department of Anaesthesiology in a tertiary care teaching hospital in southern India from February 2019 to December 2019. 90 children were randomised into group A, group B, group C. Children in group A received caudal analgesia along with GA. Group B children received thoracic epidural along with GA. Group C patients received intravenous analgesia along with GA. Rescue analgesia 1 mcg/kg fentanyl given in all 3 groups if pain score is more than 4. Primary outcome assessed was post-op pain scores. Secondary outcome assessed was duration of ventilation, duration of intensive care unit stay. Results: All patients were comparable in terms of age, sex, weight, mean RACHS score, baseline heart rate and blood pressure. Pain scores were significantly lower in thoracic epidural group compared to other two grou ps. Duration of ventilation was lower in thoracic epidural group (91.17± 43.85) minutes and caudal (199.6 ± 723.59) minutes compared to intravenous analgesia groups (436.37 ± 705.51) minutes. Duration of ICU stay was significantly low in thoracic epidural group (2.73 ± 0.69) days compared to caudal (3.7 ± 2.8) and intravenous analgesia groups (4.33 ± 0.920). We didn’t have any complications like hematoma, transient or permanent neurological sequelae in regional anesthesia groups. Conclusion: Regional anaesthesia along with general anaesthesia was more effective in pain relief than intravenous analgesia with general anaesthesia in paediatric cardiac surgery.

Effects of Ropivacaine-sufentanil Epidural Analgesia on Labor and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes

[Objectives]This study aimed to investigate the effects of ropivacaine-sufentanil epidural analgesia on labor and maternal and neonatal outcomes.[Methods]A total of 180 primiparas in full-term pregnancy were selected.They were randomly divided into treatment group(n=90)and control group(n=90).The primiparas in the treatment group were injected epidurally with ropivacaine and sufentanil for analgesia,and the primiparas in the control group were subjected to vaginal delivery.The VAS scores at 5,10,30 and 60 min of analgesia were observed.The vaginal bleeding amount,total labor duration,neonatal Apgar score and vaginal delivery rate of the two groups were compared.[Results]Compared with the control group,the VAS score in the treatment group differed insignificantly after 5 min of analgesia(P>0.05),and decreased significantly after 10,30 and 60 min of analgesia(P<0.05).The vaginal bleeding amount of the treatment group was significantly smaller than that of the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the neonatal Apgar score between the two groups(P>0.05).In the treatment group,the vaginal delivery rate increased(P<0.05),the second stage of labor was prolonged(P<0.05),and the first and third stages of labor did not change significantly(P>0.05).[Conclusions]Epidural analgesia with ropivacaine and sufentanil has a good analgesic effect and good safety,and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Thoracic Epidural Morphine for Postoperative Analgesia after Hemiclamshell Incision in Castleman Disease

The hemiclamshell incision is a valid but infrequent surgical alternative for the resection of tumors from mediastinum. This point makes this approach impossible to be studied under a randomized controlled trial. The triple association of thoracotomy, sternotomy and cervicothomy makes the hemiclamshell approach a high intensity postoperative pain surgery. However, there is no published data on this topic, and the reviewed articles only mention the analgesic regimens as a secondary point. Indeed, no author defines the best epidural drugs mixture for the patients. Multimodal analgesic regimen based on regional anesthesia should be used. Based on the recent advances on spinal opioids, morphine could be a good choice as epidural coadjutant to local anesthetics for hemiclamshell incision.

Epidural analgesia followed by epidural hydroxyethyl starch prevented post-dural puncture headache:Twenty case reports and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND Accidental dural puncture(ADP)and subsequent post-dural puncture headache(PDPH)remain common complications of epidural procedures for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia.No clear consensus exists on the best way to prevent PDPH after ADP.CASE SUMMARY We report our findings in twenty parturients who underwent an incorporated strategy of epidural analgesia followed by epidural hydroxyethyl starch(HES)to prevent PDPH after ADP with a 16-gauge Tuohy needle during epidural procedures.ADP with a 16-gauge Tuohy needle occurred in nine parturients undergoing a cesarean section(CS)and in eleven parturients receiving labor analgesia.An epidural catheter was re-sited at the same or adjacent intervertebral space in all patients.After CS,the epidural catheter was used for postoperative pain relief over a 48-h period.After delivery in eleven cases,epidural infusion was maintained for 24 h.Thereafter,15 mL of 6%HES 130/0.4 was administered via the epidural catheter immediately prior to catheter removal.None of the parturients developed PDPH or neurologic deficits over a follow-up period of at least two months to up to one year postpartum.CONCLUSION An incorporated strategy of epidural analgesia followed by epidural hydroxyethyl starch may have great efficacy in preventing PDPH after ADP.

Effects of labor analgesia on maternal and neonatal outcome by epidural low concentration of bupivacaine combined with anisodamine

Objective To observe the effects of labor analgesia on maternal and neonatal outcome by epidural application of 0.125% bupivacaine combined with anisodamine on the labor stage, and modes of delivery and neonatal Apgar’s score. Methods A total of 220 primiparaes with full-term pregnancy, monocyesis and fetal head presentation without any obstetrical or systematic complications were chosen and divided into analgesic group and control group (110 in each group). The mixture of bupivacaine and anisodamine was injected into the epidural space of the parturients in the analgesic group while those patients in the control group did not receive any analgesics. Results The analgesic effect was satisfactory (91.8%), and no side effects occurred in the second stage of labor. The instrument delivery rate was lower in the analgesic group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in neonatal Apgar’s score. Conclusion The method is feasible in clinic for labor pain relief without increasing the rate of dystocia and complications of delivery.

Clinical Study of Epidural Analgesia with Clonidine andSumatriptan in Posthysterectomy

A clinical study was conducted to compare the analgestic effect of clonidine with those of sumatriptan and their mixture and their effects on hemodynamics. 40 patients undergoing elective total hysterectomy were randomly divided into 4 groups in terms of the epidurally administered drugs with 10 patients in each group (group C1: clonidine 150 μg, group C2: clonidine 75 μg, group S: sumatriptan 6 mg and group S+C:clonidine 75 μg + sumatriptan 3 mg). MAP, HR,SpO2, VT VAS, VRS and ePDT were measured in the initial 4 h. The demographic data and the doses of intraoperative local anesthetics among the 4 groups were not staistically different. It was found that no significant difference in the pre- and postadministration values of HR, SpO2 and VT. A obvious reduction of MAP appeared in the groups of C1 and C2, but in the other groups the hemodynamical parameters were stable. The groups of C1, C2 and S+C showed significant increase in VAS and VRS, along with increase of ePDT when comapred with the pre-drug level. There was no obvious alteration in group S after the drug administration. It was concluded that (1) single use of sumatriptan is ineffective in the dose given in this study; (2) small dose (150 μg and 75μg) of clonidine has epidurally analgesic effects; (3) combined use of sumatriptan and clonidine is an acceptable way in epidural analgesia, in terms of its analgesic effect and hemodynamic changes.

The effect of postoperative epidural analgesia in women possessing severe gestational hypertension undergoing cesarean delivery

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical usefulness of postoperative epidural analgesia in patients possessing severe gestational hypertension after Cesarean delivery. Methods: We reviewed the obstetric records of 99 patients possessing severe gestational hypertension undergoing singleton Cesarean delivery at ≥ 22 weeks’ gestation. Thirty patients were received continuous epidural analgesia with 0.2% ropivacaine for pain relief after Cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia, 69 patients were not received epidural analgesia after Cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia. Results: During the preoperative period, there were no measurable differences in the diastolic blood pressure between the 2 groups (108 vs± 7 vs. 106 mmHg ± 10 mmHg, p = 0.29). The diastolic blood pressure at 2 and 4 hours after Cesarean section in the epidural analgesia group were significantly lower than those in the non-epidural group (2 hours after Cesarean section: 88 vs ± 13 vs. 95 mmHg ± 8 mmHg, p < 0.01;4 hours after Cesarean section: 92 vs ± 15 vs. 102 mmHg ± 9 mmHg, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The current results indicated that the postoperative epidural analgesia can inhibit the rise in diastolic blood pressure in patients possessing severe gestational hypertension after Cesarean delivery. This electronic document is a “live” template. The various components of your paper [title, text, heads, etc.] are already defined on the style sheet, as illustrated by the portions given in this document.

Myofascial Foot Pain Following Uneventful Epidural Analgesia for Labor and Delivery

Following an uneventful delivery under epidural analgesia, a 17 year old female patient was referred to the Pain Clinic because of numbness and pain of the left big toe for 2 and a half Months. An Orthopedic consultation had ruled out foot injury and concluded that the pain was radicular and secondary to nerve damage from the epidural analgesia. A Pain Clinic evaluation made the diagnosis of myofascial pain which was successfully treated with trigger pint block using normal saline.

Comparative Study between General Anesthesia versus General Anesthesia Combined with Thoracic Epidural Analgesia on Cytokine Response in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Patients

Background and Objectives: The main benefits of laparoscopic surgery in comparison to open surgery involve the rapid discharge from recovery room, decreased postoperative hospital stays, reduced postoperative discomfort, easier getting back to work and faster return to ordinary daily life as well as cosmetic surgical wounds. The anesthesia type has an essential role in attenuation of the surgical stress and achievement of these advantages. We aimed to determine the outcome of giving general anesthesia in conjunction with thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) compared to general anesthesia alone on stress response to surgery and anesthesia by investigating cytokine reaction (interleukin 6 and 8 levels), hemodynamic changes (BP, HR, RR, SPO2), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores postoperatively in patients subjected for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: This study included 40 patients aged 20 - 60 years old with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA) I and II. They were planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Aswan University Hospital from April 2017 to March 2018. They were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A (n. 20) received general anesthesia only and Group B (n. 20) received general anesthesia in conjunction with thoracic epidural analgesia using fentanyl and bupivacaine in the epidural catheter. Chi-square was applied to differentiate categorical variables, whereas comparison between continuous variables was done by using t-test. Two-tailed p < 0.05 was estimated as statistically significant. Results: As regards IL-6 and IL-8 post-operative there is significant difference (p < 0.05) between two groups during 2nd and 4th hr and 24th hr postoperative, with significantly increased postoperative levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in comparison to their preoperative baseline values. The largest increase in IL6 & IL8 levels was in group A (GA group). VAS score showed significant lower values in TEA group in comparison to GA group. No significant difference between groups as regard intraoperative and postoperative hemodynamic changes. Conclusion: Regional techniques including TEA attenuate and decrease cytokine reaction secondary to surgery which decreases inflammatory process and improves patient outcome and reduces pain score postoperatively.

Effect of epidural analgesia and intravenous analgesia on serum CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2 in patients with hysteromyoma

Objective:To investigate the effects of epidural analgesia and intravenous analgesia on serum Cancer 125 (antigen 125, CA125), vascular endothelial growth factor-C (Vascular endothelial growth factor-C, VEGF-C) and prostaglandin E2 (Prostaglandin VEGF-C) in patients with uterine fibroids.Methods:A total of 98 cases of uterine myoma treated in our hospital during September 2017 in September 2015 were selected and divided into 49 cases in the observation group and 49 cases in the control group according to the random table method. The two groups were all anaesthetized by subarachnoid block. The control group was controlled by self controlled intravenous analgesia, and the observation group was treated with epidural anesthesia. The operation time and the amount of intraoperative bleeding were compared between the two groups, and the changes of preoperative and postoperative 48 h VAS score, CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2 levels.Results: There was no statistical difference between the two groups of operation time and intraoperative bleeding. Two groups of postoperative 3 h, postoperative 24 h and 48 h VAS score decreased compared with preoperative;the observation group 3 h, 24 h and 48 h VAS scores were lower than those in the control group. Two groups of postoperative 48 h serum CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2 levels decreased;postoperative 48 h serum CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2 levels after operation in the observation group lower than in the control group.Conclusion: The effect of epidural analgesia on uterine myoma is obvious, and it can reduce the level of CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2, which is of great significance.

Evaluation of the efficacy of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil and ropivacaine alone for epidural labor analgesia

Objective: To study the efficacy of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil and ropivacaine alone for epidural labor analgesia. Methods: Primiparae who received vaginal delivery under epidural analgesia in Ankang People's Hospital between March 2015 and February 2017 were selected and randomly divided into accepting the group A who received ropivacaine combined with sufentanil for epidural analgesia and the group B who received ropivacaine alone for epidural analgesia. During the first, the second and the third stage of labor, the serum was collected to determine the levels of pain mediators SP, 5-HT and PGE2 as well as stress hormones NE, E, F-C, AT-II and INS;after delivery, the placenta tissue was collected to determine the expression of stress molecules GRP78, CHOP, Nrf-2 and ARE. Results: Serum SP, 5-HT, PGE2, NE, E, F-C, AT-II and INS levels of group A during the first, the second and the third stage of labor were significantly lower than those of group B;GRP78, CHOP, Nrf-2 and ARE mRNA expression in placental tissue of group A after delivery were significantly lower than those of group B. Conclusion: ropivacaine combined with sufentanil for epidural labor analgesia is more effective than ropivacaine alone in reducing pain and inhibiting stress response.

Comparison of PCIA with tramadol and combined spinal-epidural analgesia

Objective To evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with tramadol for labor analgesia as compared with combined spinal-epidural analgesia (CSEA) + patient controlled analgesia ( PCEA) with ropivacaine and fentanyl. Methods Eighty ASA Ⅰ - Ⅱ full term primigravidae in active labor (at 2 cm cervical dilation) who had a single fetus with vertex presentation and were expected to have a vaginal delivery were randomly divided into 3 groups: Ⅰ control group received no analgesia (n = 30), Ⅱ group A received CSEA + PCEA with ropivacaine and fentanyl (n = 30) and Ⅲ group B received PCIA with tramadol ( n = 20). In group A CSEA was performed at L2-3. Ropivacaine 2. 5 mg and fentanyl 5 mg were injected intrathecally. A catheter was then advanced 4 cm into epidural space cephalad for PCEA with a mixture of 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 5 μg· μλ-1 (backgroud infusion 4 ml · h-1, demand bolus 4 ml with a 15 min lockout interval). In group B the