Obstetric Analgesia with Fentanyl-Bupivacaine by the Extradural Route

Abstract

We report on the application of a combination of 0.375% bupivacaine 8 ml and fentanyl 2 ml. Thirty healthy pregnant women at term, aged 14–35 yr (mean 23.1 SD ± 4.29), weight 50–80 kg (mean 68.67, SD ± 7.45), were treated in the course of labour. We selected a dose of 0.1 ml/kg body weight (bupivacaine 0.0003 mg and fentanyl 0.001 mg) given through an extradural catheter placed 3 cm below the point of insertion at L1-L2. The first dose ranged from 5 to 8 ml (mean 6.93, SD ± 0.77). The latency interval varied from 2.5 to 4 min (mean 3.28, SD ± 0.47) and the duration of effective analgesia was 150–160 min (mean 105.83, SD ± 29.77). Eighteen of our 30 patients required a second dose and five required a third dose, similar to the first.