Comparison of different bolus delivery speeds of a programmed intermittent epidural bolus combined with dural puncture epidural block during labour analgesia: A randomised controlled study
Authors' conclusion
DPE with PIEB delivery of 360 ml h -1 did not produce higher sensory block levels than either 240 ml h -1 or 120 ml h -1 . However, in secondary outcomes, the high speed delivery did provide more effective labour analgesia and higher satisfaction than low speed delivery.
Study context
- Population
- Nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy receiving labour analgesia (DPE with programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) 10 ml every 60 min, 0.1% ropivacaine with 0.3 μg ml −1 sufentanil) in the first stage of labour; Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital, China, June–December 2023143 approached
- Participants
- 120 women
- Comparison
- PIEB delivery speed 360 vs 240 vs 120 ml h −1 after DPE
- Low-speedn = 40reference
- Medium-speedn = 40
- High-speedn = 40
- Primary endpoint
- Highest level of upper sensory block from DPE combined with PIEB until delivery
Methodological detailsprospective, double-blind
- Prospective
- Double-blind
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Highest sensory block
- No statistically significant differences between the three groups at any time in highest sensory block
- P = 0.14
Secondary outcomes
Upper sensory block
- No statistically significant difference between the three groups
- P = 0.27
Lower sensory and sacral blocks
- Lower sensory block did not differ between groups
- P = 0.20
- Sacral block did not differ between groups
- P = 0.84
Highest VAS pain scores (> 3) after labour anaesthesia
- Statistically different between the three groups
- P = 0.023
Satisfaction with labour analgesia
- Significantly different between groups
- P = 0.006
Other secondary outcomes
- No differences noted
Original publication
Comparison of different bolus delivery speeds of a programmed intermittent epidural bolus combined with dural puncture epidural block during labour analgesia: A randomised controlled study. Eur J Anaesthesiol. Published 20 June 2025. doi:10.
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