['To prospectively evaluate if a high rate of epidural analgesia (EDA) with bupivacaine-sufentanil is consistent with a low rate of caesarean section, instrumental deliveries and dystocia and to evaluate maternal and fetal adverse effects of sufentanil.', 'Populations-based prospective descriptive study. A change of EDA from bupivacaine to low dose bupivacaine-sufentanil at the delivery unit of the hospital during 1993 resulted in a marked increase in the rate of EDA. The outcome from the study period (1994-1995) was compared to the outcome during a reference period 1991-1992.', 'There were no significant differences in the incidence of caesarean section and instrumental delivery for dystocia between the two periods (4.4 and 4.6%). The overall incidence of caesarean section, 9.6% and instrumental deliveries, 6.4% during the study period was lower than or comparable to the national background data (11.1 and 6.8%, respectively) while the EDA rate was markedly higher 37.8 versus 21.9%.'] Is a high rate of epidural analgesia with bupivacaine-sufentanil consistent with a low rate of caesarean section and instrumental deliveries?