BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, delay and duration of @entity1337 of three equianalgesic epidural doses of @entity1343 , @entity1342 and @entity1341 during the first stage of labour. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-nine healthy primigravida in spontaneous labour who requested epidural @entity1337 were enrolled in a randomized observer-blinded study. Parturients were allocated to receive epidural @entity1343 0.0625%, @entity1342 0.1% or @entity1341 0.06259%. @entity681 10 microg was added to all solutions; the total volume of epidural solution was 20 mL. @entity158 was measured using a 100 mm visual analogue @entity158 scale immediately before the epidural block, and at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min thereafter. Motor block was evaluated using a modified Bromage scoring system. The adequacy of motor function for ambulation was also evaluated. Delay of @entity1337 was the time interval between the injection of the solution and the first painless contraction. Duration of @entity1337 was the time from the first painless contraction to the parturients' requests for further @entity1337 . RESULTS: Twelve parturients failed to complete the study. Eleven parturients had inadequate @entity1337 (four in Group @entity1343 , four in Group @entity1342 and three in Group @entity1341 ; P > 0.05). Data was analysed from 34 parturients in Group @entity1343 , from 37 in Group @entity1342 and from 35 in Group @entity1341 . There were no differences in the delay of @entity1337 or in the number of parturients who were able to walk unaided. @entity1343 and @entity1342 produced more prolonged @entity1337 than @entity1341 (114 and 119 min, respectively, versus 89 min; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: During early labour, equipotent low concentrations of @entity1343 , @entity1342 and @entity1341 , all with the addition of @entity681 10 microg, produced similar @entity158 , but @entity1343 and @entity1342 produced a longer lasting @entity1337 . About 10% of parturients had inadequate @entity1337 with a single bolus of the tested solutions.

Epidural XXXX , @entity1342 and @entity1341 in combination with @entity681 in early labour: a randomized trial.

@entity681 :: ('MESH:D017409', 'Chemical') :: ['Sufentanil', 'sufentanil'] @entity1337 :: ('MESH:D000699', 'Disease') :: ['analgesia'] @entity1342 :: ('MESH:C037663', 'Chemical') :: ['ropivacaine', 'Ropivacaine'] @entity1341 :: ('MESH:D002045', 'Chemical') :: ['bupivacaine', 'Bupivacaine'] @entity1343 :: ('MESH:C476513', 'Chemical') :: ['Levobupivacaine', 'levobupivacaine'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['Pain', 'pain', 'pain relief and motor block']
@entity1343 :: (MESH:C476513,Chemical) :: ['levobupivacaine']
