The Effect of the Fetal Head Station at Epidural Placement on the Labor Outcome Publisher



Shamsi A¹ ; Ahmed SB¹ ; Majd MN² ; Rezaeinejad M³ Show Affiliations
Source: Archives of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Published:2025

Abstract

Background: The fetal head station plays a crucial role in determining its location in the birth canal, estimating the time and manner of delivery, and detecting the upcoming steps in both the fetus and mother. This information helps medical staff deal with these steps more accurately and effectively. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of the fetal head station at epidural placement on the labor outcome. Methods: Based on the inclusion criteria, we selected 234 healthy women, all of whom requested and received epidural analgesia. Before inserting the epidural, we made a list of all the signs of labor. Next, 16 ml of 0.125% isobaric bupivacaine mixed with 50 micrograms of fentanyl was injected into the samples to make labor painless. Blood pressure, O₂ saturation, and heart rhythm of the samples (mothers) were measured non-invasively every 5 minutes (first half an hour) and also every quarter of an hour, and careful monitoring was performed by the treatment team. The treatment team also performed fetal heart monitoring. We recorded other parameters as well. Data were analyzed using chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests. We considered a P-value of less than 0.05 as the threshold of significance. Results: In total, 234 women received epidural analgesia; most had normal deliveries (198), and only 36 of them had cesarean sections. no significant relation between both station and mode of delivery, by using a chi-square test with a range of (P value = 0.4581). The relationship between station and cervical dilation between groups is significant (P = 0.0147). The duration of the labor procedure between station groups is significant (P value = 0.0005). Conclusion: Fetal head station usage for determining epidural analgesia start for women in labor shows more accuracy than using cervical dilation alone; epidural analgesia helps the labor procedure to be less painful, has a minimal effect on labor duration, and helps increase the rate of normal delivery. © 2025 Tehran University of Medical Sciences.