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| Study (year) | Country | DEX/control | Epidural analgesia | DEX intervention | Control intervention | Jadad score |
| Cases | Mean age (years) | Gestational week | Weight (kg) | Height (cm) | BMI (kg/m2) | Cervical dilatation (cm) |
|
| Jun et al. [3] | China | 75/75 | 25.5/26.5 | 37.6/36.9 | 61.4/62.8 | 166.1/165.5 | NM | NM | When the cervical dilation reached 3 cm, a catheter was inserted at the L3-L4 interspace, 3–4 cm cephaladly. First dose: 10 mL, background: 10 mL/h, bonus: 5 mL, lockout time: 20 min | PCEA: 0.1% ropivacaine and 0.5 μg/mL DEX; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 10 ml/h, a single additional quantity: 5 ml, and lock time: 20 min | PCEA: 0.1% ropivacaine; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 10 ml/h, a single additional: quantity 5 ml, and lock time: 20 min | 4 |
|
| Zhao et al. [11] | China | 40/40 | 25.9/26.2 | NM | 80.7/79.3 | 163.2/163.03 | 30.3/29.9 | NM | A catheter was advanced through the needle 4 cm into the epidural space | 0.125% ropivacaine with 0.5 μg/kg DEX | 0.125% ropivacaine | 5 |
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| Selim et al. [21] | Egypt | 44/43 | 25.1/24.0 | 38.9/39.2 | 74.7/78.1 | 161/163 | NM | 5.1/4.9 | A catheter was inserted into the L3-L4 interspace, 2–3 cm cephaladly. Initial bolus 17 mL, a second dose was injected when VAS was ≥4 | 12 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine plus 1 μg/kg DEX diluted in 5 mL saline | 12 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine plus 1 μg/kg fentanyl diluted in 5 mL saline | 5 |
|
| Zhang and Li [22] | China | 30/30 | 28.0/26.9 | 39.2/38.7 | 71.3/68.5 | 159.4/160.5 | NM | 2.0/2.1 | When the cervical dilation reached 2 cm, a catheter was inserted at the L2-L3 interspace, 3–5 cm cephaladly. First dose 10 mL, background 8 mL/h, bonus 8 mL, lockout time 15 min | 10 ml of 0.1% ropivacaine plus 0.5 μg/mL DEX, background infusion 8 ml/h, a bolus of 8 ml when VSA > 7, lockout time 15 min | 10 ml of 0.1% ropivacaine, background infusion: 8 ml/h, a bolus of 8 ml when VSA > 7, lockout time: 15 min | 3 |
|
| Cheng et al. [23] | China | 80/80 | 27.5/27.4 | 39.4/39.4 | NM | NM | 25.9/26.3 | NM | When the cervical dilation reached 3 cm, a catheter was inserted at the L3-L4 interspace, 3–4 cm cephaladly. Initial bolus 13 mL, background 8 mL/h, lockout interval 30 min | PCEA: 0.125% or 0.08% ropivacaine with 0.5 μg/mL DEX; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 8 ml/h, a single additional quantity: 8 ml, and lock time: 30 min | PCEA: 0.125% or 0.08% ropivacaine with 0.5 μg/mL sufentanil; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 8 ml/h, a single additional quantity: 8 ml, and lock time 30 min | 7 |
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| Zhang et al. [24] | China | 36/34 | 27.3/26.7 | 39.8/40.1 | 70.8/69.5 | 159.3/160.4 | NM | NM | When the cervical dilation reached 2 cm, a catheter was inserted at the L2-L3 interspace, 3–4 cm cephaladly. First dose: 10 mL, background: 6 mL/h, bonus: 6 mL, lockout time: 20 min | PCEA: 0.1% ropivacaine plus 0.5 μg/mL DEX; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 6 ml/h, a single additional quantity: 6 ml, and lock time: 20 min | PCEA: 0.1% ropivacaine plus 0.5 μg/mL sufentanil; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 6 ml/h, a single additional quantity: 6 ml, and lock time: 20 min | 6 |
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| Li et al. [25] | China | 291/287 | 28.8/29.1 | 39.2/39.4 | 69.4/68.8 | 160.2/160.6 | NM | NM | When the cervical dilation reached 2 cm, a catheter was inserted at the L2-L3 interspace, 3–5 cm cephaladly. First dose: 10 mL, background: 6 ml/h, bolus: 6 ml, lockout time: 15 min | PCEA: 0.1% ropivacaine with 0.5 μg/mL DEX; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 6 ml/h, a single additional quantity: 6 ml, and lock time: 15 min | PCEA: 0.1% ropivacaine; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 6 ml/h, a single additional quantity: 6 ml, and lock time: 15 min | 6 |
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| Li et al. [26] | China | 36/35 | 29.2/30.1 | 39.1/37.4 | 65.2/64.7 | 159.6/159.0 | NM | NM | When the cervical dilation reached 3 cm, a catheter was inserted at the L2-L3 interspace, 3–4 cm cephaladly. First dose: 10 mL, background: 7 ml/h, bolus: 7 ml, lockout time: 25 min | PCEA: 0.1% ropivacaine with 0.5 μg/mL DEX; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 7 ml/h, a single additional quantity: 7 ml, and lock time: 25 min | PCEA: 0.1% ropivacaine with 0.5 μg/ml sufentanil; first dose: 10 ml, background infusion: 7 ml/h, a single additional quantity: 7 ml, and lock time: 25 min | 7 |
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| Liu et al. [27] | China | 118/29 | 27.3/27 | 39.3/40 | 69.5/70 | 160.5/160 | NM | 3/3 | A catheter was inserted at the L3-L4 interspace, 3–4 cm cephaladly. First dose: 13 mL | 13 ml Ropivacaine with 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, or 0.6 μg/mL DEX | 13 ml ropivacaine | 7 |
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