Comparison of 0.1% Ropivacaine-Fentanyl with 0.1% Bupivacaine-Fentanyl Epidurally for Labour Analgesia

Abstract

Ropivacaine is an alternative to epidural bupivacaine, with greater selectivity for sensory fibres than motor fibres, thus producing less motor blockade as compared to bupivacaine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Ropivacaine 0.1% when administered epidurally for the relief of labour pain and to compare it with 0.1% bupivacaine, conducted at Rajindra Hospital Patiala, Baba Farid University of Health and Sciences, on 20 parturients after ethical approval from the institutional review board and obtaining written informed consent. Participants were randomly allocated to the two groups (bupivacaine 0.1% (Sensorcaine) + fentanyl 20 μg versus ropivacaine 0.1% (Ropin) + fentanyl 20 μg). It was observed that ropivacaine 0.1% and bupivacaine 0.1%, with fentanyl 20 μg/mL, produced equivalent analgesia for labour. There were no statistically significant differences in the amount of local anaesthetic used, pain scores, sensory levels, motor blockade, labour duration, mode of delivery, and side effects or patient satisfaction amongst the two local anaesthetics using the intermittent top-up technique. We conclude that the combinations of ropivacaine or bupivacaine with fentanyl achieve equally effective and excellent labour analgesia with no motor blockade and without jeopardizing the safety of the mother and foetus and, hence, are recommended for labour analgesia.