Comparison of analgesia efficacy between single-orifice and multiorifice wire-reinforced catheters for labour analgesia with the dural puncture epidural technique: A double-blind randomised controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
DPE using a 25-G spinal needle and with a single-orifice catheter produced a significantly faster onset of analgesia than DPE with a multiorifice catheter during labour initiation.
Study context
- Population
- Healthy nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies, cervical dilation 2 to 5 cm, requesting neuraxial labour analgesia131 analysed
- Participants
- 136 women
- Comparison
- Single-orifice vs Multiorifice
- Primary endpoint
- Time to NRS pain score 3 or less after the initial bolus
Methodological detailsprospective, double-blind, single-centre, Initiation: 12 ml 0.1% ropivacaine + 0.3 μg ml −1 sufentanil in two 6 ml doses; maintenance by programmed intermittent epidural boluses 10 ml every 40 min at 360 ml h −1, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, 1 September to 27 October 2024
- Prospective
- Double-blind
- Single-centre
- Initiation: 12 ml 0.1% ropivacaine + 0.3 μg ml −1 sufentanil in two 6 ml doses; maintenance by programmed intermittent epidural boluses 10 ml every 40 min at 360 ml h −1
- Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, 1 September to 27 October 2024
Primary result
Time to adequate analgesia
Hazard ratio
1.72
95% CI 1.17–2.53
P = 0.003
By group
Single-orifice vs Multiorifice
HR 1.72 (95% CI 1.17–2.53); P = 0.003
As reported in the abstract
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to adequate analgesia (post hoc sensitivity analysis) | 1.79 (1.19–2.71) | P = 0.005 | |
| 0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Adequate analgesia · 20 min
P = 0.02
Bilateral S2 sensory blockade · 20 min
P = 0.03
Other parameters
- No significant differences in other parameters
Original publication
Comparison of analgesia efficacy between single-orifice and multiorifice wire-reinforced catheters for labour analgesia with the dural puncture epidural technique: A double-blind randomised controlled trial. Eur J Anaesthesiol. Published 5 December 2025. doi:10.
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