Epidural analgesia during labor and incidence of cesarian section: prospective study.

For many years the opportunity of reducing the pain of birth through the administering of drugs (e.g. local anesthetics and opioids) into the epidural space has been known. Numerous studies have been conducted throughout the years to clarify whether the use of the epidural has resulted in a higher incidence of cesarean sections but it appears that this is due more to maternal-fetal factors than it is to the epidural. In this study, we have outlined the experience of the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit of an Italian Children's Hospital in which approximately-2500 births take place every year and in which there is an active birth analgesia service which requires the presence of a dedicated anesthetist.