Fetal uterine assessment
| 25 Gauge (n=67) | 27 Gauge (n=68) | P value | |
| Before DPEA | |||
| Contraction frequency (contractions/10 min) | 3 [2–5] | 4 [2–5] | 0.339 |
| FHR (beats/min) | 138.3 (7.3) | 141.6 (7.7) | 0.012 |
| Variability | 0.571 | ||
| Absent | 0 | 0 | – |
| Minimal | 1 (1.5) | 3 (4.4) | – |
| Moderate | 61 (91) | 61 (89.7) | – |
| Marked | 5 (7.5) | 4 (5.9) | – |
| Decelerations | 0.565 | ||
| Absent | 63 (94) | 64 (94.1) | – |
| Early | 3 (4.4) | 4 (5.9) | – |
| Late | 0 | 0 | – |
| Variable | 1 (1.5) | 0 | – |
| Hypertonus | 0 | 0 | NS |
| NICHD FHR category (1/2/3) | 66/1/0 | 65/3/0 | 0.620 |
| Contraction frequency (contractions/10 min) | 3 [2–5] | 4 [2–5] | 0.339 |
| Fetal heart rate (beats/min) | 139.5 (9) | 140.5 (9.5) | 0.619 |
| Variability | 0.135 | ||
| Absent | 0 | 0 | – |
| Minimal | 2 (2.9) | 6 (8.8) | – |
| Moderate | 62 (92.5) | 62 (91.1) | – |
| Marked | 3 (4.4) | 0 | – |
| Decelerations | 0.658 | ||
| Absent | 54 (80.6) | 51 (75) | – |
| Early | 6 (9) | 6 (8.8) | – |
| Late | 0 | 1 (1.5) | – |
| Variable | 7 (10.4) | 10 (14.7) | – |
| Hypertonus | 2 (2.9) | 0 | 0.245 |
| NICHD FHR category (1/2/3) | 60/7/0 | 55/13/0 | 0.226 |
| Apgar score | |||
| 1 min | 9 [3–9] | 9 [5–9] | 0.756 |
| 5 min | 9 [7–10] | 9 [7–10] | 0.540 |
Continuous variables (ie, fetal heart rate) are presented as mean (SD), ordinal variables (ie, frequency of contractions and Apgar score) are presented as median [range] while other variables are presented as count (%).
DPEA, dural puncture epidural analgesia; FHR, fetal heart rate; NICHD, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; NS, non-significant.