Bouvet L, et al. - Researchers investigated if obstetric epidural analgesia from a low concentration of ropivacaine resulted in significant shift in cutaneous temperature, associated with sympathetic block detected by infrared thermography, at dermatomes C4, T4, T10, L2 and L5. In this prospective cohort study, 53 parturients were examined. Verbal pain score > 3 at 60 min defined failed epidural analgesia. Skin temperatures measured at T4, T10, L2 and L5 dermatomes, but not at C4, were found to be significantly increased. As for failed (n = 3) vs successful (n = 50) epidural analgesia, a significant difference was noted in the change in skin temperature at T10. The possible utility of infrared thermography for the early diagnosis of successful obstetric epidural analgesia was suggested.