Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of epidural analgesia administered as early as cervical dilatation of 1 cm on labor interventions and maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Methods: This retrospective research recruited 1007 full-term primigravidas, who were distributed to two separate cohorts for eligibility: epidural analgesia 1 (cervical dilatation = 1 cm) and epidural analgesia 2 (cervical dilatation >1 cm). Labor interventions (artificial rupture of membranes and oxytocin administration) and duration of labor were the primary outcomes.
Results: The effect of initiation timing of epidural analgesia on artificial membrane rupture was not statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.85 [0.58-1.24], p > 0.05). Less oxytocin was used in the epidural analgesia 2 group compared with the epidural analgesia 1 group (the adjusted OR: 0.68 [0.49-0.95], p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the median time to latent phase of labor, active phase of labor, second, and third stages of labor (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes between the epidural analgesia 1 group and the epidural analgesia 2 group.
Conclusion: Epidural analgesia could be administered at cervical dilatation = 1 cm.
Keywords: artificial membrane rupture; cervical dilation; epidural analgesia; labor stage; use of oxytocin.
© 2023 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.