Epidural top-up during second stage of labor and perineal lacerations in primiparous women: a retrospective cohort study (2021–2023)
Authors' conclusion
Epidural top-ups in the second stage of labor were not associated with perineal lacerations.
Study context
- Population
- Primiparous women with singleton, cephalic pregnancies, epidural analgesia, vaginal delivery (2021–2023)
- Participants
- 1,303 women
- Exposure
- Epidural top-up during second stage of labor vs no top-up
- Top-upn = 274
- Outcome
- Perineal lacerations
Methodological detailssingle-centre, multivariable logistic regression
- Single-centre
- Multivariable logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Duration of second stage
Original publication
Epidural top-up during second stage of labor and perineal lacerations in primiparous women: a retrospective cohort study (2021–2023). Int J Obstet Anesth. Published 26 February 2026. doi:10.
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