Abstract: Objective To compare the effects of latent phase and active phase of labor analgesia with combined spinal-epidural ropivacaine and sufentanil. Methods The investigation covered 200 full-term, single-birth participants and they were randomized in to latent phase group and active phase group (100 cases each group) and received combined spinal-epidural labor analgesia when their cervices opening 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm, 3 cm respectively. VAS before analgesia and during various stages of labor, time for the first stage of labor and the second stage of labor, delivery methods,oxytocin usage, Apgar Score and maternal motor block degree were recorded and analyzed by t test, chi-square test. Results VAS before analgesia and 10 to 30 minutes after analgesia have no significant difference; VAS for the latent phase group was lower than active phase group when cervix opening 7cm to 8 cm, 10 cm after analgesia (P＜0.01); Time length for the first and the second stage of labor, delivery way, oxytocin usage, Apgar Score and maternal motor block degree were similar. Conclusions It is feasible and safe to treat latent phase labor analgesia with combined spinal-epidural ropivacaine and sufentanil.

Key words: ropivacaine, sufentanil, combined spinal-epidural analgesia, latent phase