Continuous Versus Intermittent Epidural Analgesia

Abstract

Summary A randomised study of 381 women was carried out to compare the obstetric outcome after epidural analgesia maintained by an intermittent fop‐up regimen or with a continuous infusion. The two groups were well matched with respect to age, parity, mode of onset of labour and indication for epidural. Maintenance of epidural analgesia by continuous infusion resulted in a significantly decreased need for top‐up doses. A reduction in the incidence of hypotension, cardiotocographic evidence of intrapartum fetal hypoxia and Caesarean section was associated with this. It is concluded that the maintenance of epidural analgesia by continuous infusion is a safe and reliable method and may be more advantageous and less labour intensive than the traditional intermittent regimen.

Ambulatory labor analgesia: what does an obstetrician need to know?

“…The quality of labor analgesia as perceived by the patient has often been assessed by a simple statement that describes the degree of the patient's satisfaction with the pain relief from her labor epidural analgesia (18)(19)(20)(21). Many laboring parturients, midwives, obstetricians and anesthesiologists are increasingly concerned by the limitations of traditional epidural labor analgesia (17).…”

Ambulatory labor analgesia: what does an obstetrician need to know?

“…The quality of labor analgesia as perceived by the patient has often been assessed by a simple statement that describes the degree of the patient's satisfaction with the pain relief from her labor epidural analgesia (18–21). Many laboring parturients, midwives, obstetricians and anesthesiologists are increasingly concerned by the limitations of traditional epidural labor analgesia (17).…”