The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the association bupivacaine with sufentanil for labor and delivery analgesia through a continuous epidural blockade, for both mother and the neonate. A randomized double blind prospective clinical trial was performed including sixty nulliparous women at the Maternity of CAISM/UNICAMP. When requesting analgesia, the women were randomly allocated to two groups: BS, receiving 12.5 mg of bupivacaine with adrenaline plus 30 µg of sufentanil and BP, receiving 12.5 mg of bupivacaine with adrenaline plus placebo. The parameters concerning the quality and duration of analgesia, duration of labor, and also possible effects on the neonate were evaluated. The results showed the superiority of the addition of sufentanil regarding the degree of analgesia during the time of action of the first dose of the local anesthetic. There was no increase in the duration of labor after the onset of analgesia when comparing both groups, nor any difference in the route of delivery. Concerning neonate evaluation, there were no differences between the two groups. It is concluded that the association of 30 µg of sufentanil with the first dose of bupivacaine is safe and efficacious. It improved the quality of analgesia, increased its duration, and did not affect the progress of labor and neonatal outcome.
Labor and delivery analgesia; Epidural; Opioid
