Feasibility of epidural injection of ropivacaine and dexamethasone for labor analgesia in women with preeclampsia.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of epidural injection of ropivacaine (Rop) and dexamethasone (Dex) for labor analgesia in women with preeclampsia. Methods A total of 80 women with preeclampsia delivered in our hospital were enrolled, and were divided into a study group (n=41, Rop + Dex) and a control group (n=39, Rop alone). The changes in pain level, sedation, catecholamine hormone levels and vital signs were compared between the two groups after intervention. The motor blockade score and the incidence of adverse reactions after administration of anesthesia were compared in both groups. Results Pain level [visual analogue scale (VAS) score], sedation (Ramsay score), adrenaline (AD), norepinephrine (NE), heart rate (HR), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) did not differ significantly between the two groups at pre-analgesia (T0) (P>0.05), and Ramsay score in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group at 30 min (T1), 60 min (T2), 120 min after analgesia (T3), and cessation of analgesia (T4), and VAS score, AD, NE, HR, MAP in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group during all stages of labor. Conclusion The epidural injection of Rop + Dex in women with preeclampsia can play a better analgesic and sedative effect, stabilize maternal hemodynamic index and improve postpartum motor blockade.