Comparison of epidural tramadol-ropivacaine and fentanyl-ropivacaine for labor analgesia: A prospective randomized study

Figures & data

Table I. Demographic data in each group.

	Group tramadol (n = 30)	Group fentanyl (n = 31)
Age (years)	26.0 ± 3.1	25.3 ± 2.6
Weight (kg)	69 ± 6	68 ± 7
Height (cm)	161 ± 5	160 ± 5
Gestational age (weeks)	39.2 ± 1.2	39.5 ± 1.3
Cervical dilatation (cm): start of study	3.5 ± 1.0	3.4 ± 0.9

Values are expressed as mean ± SD. There was no difference between the two groups.

Figure 1. Changes in maternal HR, MAP, VAS scores, and fetal HR in each group. Values are expressed as mean ± SD. There was no significant difference between the two groups at any time points (p > 0.05).

Table II. Maternal data in each group.

	Group tramadol (n = 30)	Group fentanyl(n = 31)	P value
Nausea (n)	2	3	0.671
Vomiting (n)	0	1	0.508
Pruritus (n)	0	4	0.081
Shivering (n)	0	3	0.238
Urinary retention (n)	0	2	0.492
Respiratory depression (n)	0	0	–
Oxytocin use (n)	9	11	0.228
Instrument assisted delivery (n)	3	3	0.996
Cesarean delivery (n)	2	2	0.973
Additional requirements for epidural analgesic agent (n)	0	0	–
Hypotension (n)	0	0	–
Duration of first stage (min)	471 ± 143	451 ± 134	0.567
Duration of second stage (min)	50 ± 15	52 ± 16	0.480
Onset of sensory block (min)	4.4 ± 0.6	4.6 ± 0.6	0.181
Highest sensory block	T9 (T6–T10)	T8 (T6–T9)	0.353
Motor block:
Maximum Bromage scale (n)0-1-2-3 (n)	24-6-0-0	23-8-0-0	0.590

Values are expressed as number, mean ± SD, or median (range). There was no difference between the two groups.

Table III. Neonatal data in each group.

	Group tramadol (n = 30)	Group fentanyl(n = 31)	P value
Birth-weight (kg)	3.4 ± 0.4	3.5 ± 0.4	0.465
Apgar scores
1 min	9 (7–10)	9 (7–10)	0.608
5 min	10 (8–10)	10 (8–10)	0.751
Umbilical arterial blood acid–base status
pH	7.27 ± 0.04	7.23 ± 0.04	0.001
PO2 (mmHg)	15.2 ± 4.2	15.0 ± 4.5	0.859
PCO2 (mmHg)	52 ± 6	57 ± 10	0.026
Base excess (mmol/L)	-3.0 ± 2.7	-3.9 ± 2.9	0.232
Lactate concentrations (mmol/L)	4.1 ± 1.1	4.3 ± 1.3	0.549

Values are expressed as mean ± SD or median (range). Umbilical arterial pH was significantly lower, while PaCO₂ was higher in Group fentanyl than Group tramadol.