To investigate the effect of different concentrations of ropivacaine on maternal temperature and inflammatory factors during epidural analgesia.

One hundred and forty healthy term nulliparas were randomly assigned to receive epidural analgesia with either 0.1% ropivacaine (group H) or 0.068% ropivacaine (group L). Epidural sufentanil 0.3 μg/mL was added in both groups. Maternal tympanic temperature was measured at initiation of epidural analgesia (baseline temperature) and each hour thereafter. Maternal blood samples were taken at the time of epidural placement and 4 hours after analgesia to detect IL-6 and IL-1β serum concentrations. Visual analog scale pain scores, labour events and neonatal outcomes were recorded.

Epidural analgesia using 0.1% or 0.068% ropivacaine both achieved satisfactory pain relief. Increases in maternal body temperature and in IL-6 levels were observed in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. The incidence of maternal fever was similar between the two groups.

Maternal body temperature and serum inflammatory factors are similarly affected by 0.1% or 0.068% ropivacaine used during epidural analgesia use for labour pain relief.