Impact of Epidural Analgesia on the Mode of Delivery

Abstract

Epidural analgesia is the most effective labour pain relief but is associated with increased rates of instrumental vaginal delivery/ cesarean delivery. Epidural analgesia is associated with longer second-stage labor, more frequent oxytocin augmentation, hypotension, and maternal fever but not with longer first-stage labor. It is associated with improved patient satisfaction and better neonatal outcome as compared to other analgesia techniques.