Nalbuphine as a Bridge to Delayed Epidural Analgesia: A Randomized Trial on First-Stage Labor Duration.

Randomized trialDrug design, development and therapy· 2026

Nalbuphine as a Bridge to Delayed Epidural Analgesia: A Randomized Trial on First-Stage Labor Duration.

Yang Xu, Congzhong Song, Yuzeng Xu … Jing Yu

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Regional AnesthesiaRandomized trialTreatmentQ1IF 6.0

Nalbuphine-assisted delayed epidural analgesia shortens first-stage labor versus early epidural

Nalbuphine as a Bridge to Delayed Epidural Analgesia: A Randomized Trial on First-Stage Labor Duration.

Yang Xu … Jing Yu

Drug design, development and therapy · 2026

Purpose

The present study aimed to investigate whether nalbuphine-assisted delayed epidural analgesia, as compared with early epidural analgesia, exerts an effect on the duration of the first stage of labor in nulliparous women.

Methods

Were randomly allocated to either the Early Epidural Analgesia group (normal saline control, NS group) or the Delayed Epidural Analgesia group (nalbuphine-assisted, NB group).

n = 120 nulliparous women

Results

labor's first stage finished faster with nalbuphine-assisted delayed epidural than early epidural

HR 1.63 (95% CI 1.08 to 2.46)

null 1

1.08

2.46

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

No between-group statistical differences were observed in the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage, oxytocin administration rate, labor induction methods, episiotomy rate, amniotic fluid contamination, maternal fever, nausea, vomiting, or cesarean section rate.

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Conclusion

For nulliparous women, nalbuphine-assisted delayed epidural analgesia can shorten the duration of the first stage of labor compared with early epidural analgesia (administered at cervical dilation ≤ 3 cm).

Nalbuphine as a Bridge to Delayed Epidural Analgesia: A Randomized Trial on First-Stage Labor Duration.

Nalbuphine as a Bridge to Delayed Epidural Analgesia: A Randomized Trial on First-Stage Labor Duration.

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