Comparison of the Fetal Heart Rate Changes between Epidural Analgesia Delivery and Combined Spinal-Epidural Analgesia Delivery

Abstract

The pain of vaginal delivery is considered as the worst experience in women life because it negatively affects mother and fetus situations. The most important methods, which are advised by anesthesiologists for reduction of pain, are as follows: epidural and combined spinal-epidural analgesia. The ideal method provides convenient pain relief and guarantees maternal and fetal safety, simultaneously. It is most obvious that fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal movement (FM) and maternal hemodynamic (i.e. blood pressure, heart rate, SaO2) monitoring are the most available ways for controlling of fetus and mother’s condition during delivery process. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 100 pregnant women (50 cases in each group) during labor. FHR, FM, BP, HR and SaO2, were monitored and recorded. Data was analyzed by SPSS 22. Results: There were no significantly differences in FHR, FM and Apgar scores between two groups. In addition, any significant correlation was not found between two groups in term of maternal hemodynamics. Generally, FHR, maternal BP and HR were in the normal ranges. C/S rate was lower in epidural group but this difference was not statistically significant.