Dexmedetomidine or Fentanyl as Additives to Epidural Levobupivacaine in Painless Labor

Role of Dexmedetomidine or Fentanyl as Additives to Epidural Levobupivacaine in Painless Labor: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Study

Central neuraxial analgesia has been extensively used for labor analgesia and is currently the gold standard technique for pain control in obstetrics.

The aim of the study will be to compare the role of dexmedetomidine or fentanyl as additives to epidural levobupivacaine in painless vaginal delivery as regard maternal analgesia and safety.

Inclusion Criteria:

• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class II and III,
• Full term pregnancy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient refusal to epidural analgesia,
• Contraindications of epidural analgesia (coagulopathy, local infection, vertebral deformity hypersensitivity to levobupivacaine, dexmedetomidine or fentanyl, hemodynamic instability, severe aortic or mitral stenosis),
• Cardiac diseases
• Severe pre-eclampsia,
• Breech presentations
• Antepartum hemorrhage
• Cephalopelvic disproportion
• Body mass index ≥40 kg/m2.