Epidural analgesia versus dural puncture epidural analgesia in labouring parturients: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
An erratum to this article was published (Br J Anaesth, Oct 2025 ↗)
Pooled result · Time to onset of analgesiaResult — go to the resultMean difference 3.4 min 95% CI 2.1–4.7Authors' conclusion
DPE labour analgesia offers a slightly faster onset and reduced incidence of motor and unilateral blocks compared with traditional epidural analgesia.
Study context
- Population
- Labouring parturients receiving neuraxial labour analgesia
- Participants
- 2,144 participants · 18 RCTs
- Comparison
- Epidural analgesia vs dural puncture epidural analgesia
- Outcome
- Time to onset of analgesia
Methodological detailsinverse variance random-effects model, 95% prediction intervals, GRADE certainty assessment, subgroup analyses by local anaesthetic
- Inverse variance random-effects model
- 95% prediction intervals
- GRADE certainty assessment
- Subgroup analyses by local anaesthetic
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Mean difference
3.4 min
95% CI 2.1–4.7
P < 0.01
DPE vs Epidural
mean difference 3.4 min (95% CI 2.1–4.7); P < 0.01
Further pooled results
Unilateral block, motor block, sacral sparing, adequate analgesia
- Fewer unilateral blocks, reduced motor block, improved sacral coverage and higher rates of adequate analgesia with dural puncture epidural (DPE)
- Substantial heterogeneity for unilateral block and sacral sparing
Caesarean/operative vaginal delivery, additional doses
- Not statistically significant
Safety
Hypotension
- Not statistically significant
Original publication
Epidural analgesia versus dural puncture epidural analgesia in labouring parturients: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Anaesth. Published 22 March 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →