The impact of epidural analgesia on delivery mode in Robson class 1 women: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: The use of epidural analgesia represents the gold standard for pain management during labor, but the influence of the use of epidural analgesia on delivery mode is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the impact of epidural analgesia on the delivery mode, namely, cesarean delivery, vaginal delivery, and operative vaginal delivery rates, in Robson class 1 women. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all Robson class 1 women who delivered from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, in the University Hospital of Modena. The primary outcome was the delivery mode (cesarean delivery, vaginal delivery, and operative vaginal delivery rates), and the secondary outcomes were maternal, anesthesiologic, and neonatal effects of epidural analgesia (duration of labor, duration of the second stage of labor, Apgar score, and neonatal intensive care unit admission). RESULTS: A total of 744 women were included in the final analysis, of which 198 (26.6%) underwent epidural analgesia on request and 546 (73.4%) did not. In women with and without epidural analgesia, the cesarean delivery rate was 8.1% vs 7%, the vaginal delivery rate was 79.3% vs 81.1%, and the operative vaginal delivery rate was 12.6% vs 11.9%, respectively. A significant increase in both the first stage of labor (66.3±38.5 vs 43.8±38.8 minutes; P<.0001) and total duration of labor (328.0±206.7 vs 201.7±168.3 minutes; P<.0001) was found in women receiving epidural analgesia. No change was recorded in the second stage of labor. A shorter duration of labor was observed (P<.0001) when epidural analgesia was started earlier (dilation: 2–4 cm vs >4 cm). No significant difference in Apgar score and neonatal intensive care unit admission was found. CONCLUSION: The use of epidural analgesia was not associated with an increased risk of cesarean delivery or operative vaginal delivery in Robson class 1 women. Further investigations are needed to evaluate its impact on the duration of labor, namely the duration of the first stage of labor, and on the possible advantages of starting epidural analgesia at an early stage.