Abstract:Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) with continuous epidural infusion (CEI) at different interval time for labor analgesia.Methods A total of 229 primiparous full-term singleton pregnant women requiring labor analgesia were randomly divided into three groups: PIEB mode at an interval of 30 min group (group P30, n![]()
=77), PIEB mode at an interval of 60 min group (group P60, n![]()
=76) and traditional CEI mode group (group C, n![]()
=76). Epidural catheters was placed at the L3-4 interspace with the subject in lateral position. Epidural solution was 0.08% ropivacaine and 0.3 μg/mL sufentanil, and the initial loading dose was 10 mL. PIEB regimens were programmed as bolus 5 mL per 30 min starting from 30 min after analgesia began in group P30 and bolus 10 mL per 60 min starting from 60 min after analgesia began in group P60. Group C received continuous infusion at 10 mL/h immediately when analgesia began. The patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) dose was 5 mL with a 10 minutes lockout. The drugs used in the pump were 0.08% ropivacaine and 0.3 μg/mL sufentanil in three groups. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and modified Bromage scores were recorded before labor analgesia, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours after labor analgesia, at full dilation of the cervix and during delivery. The consumption of anesthetic, the number of pressing of self-controlled analgesia pump, and occurrence of adverse reactions were recorded.Results The VAS scores obviously decreased in the three groups since receiving labor analgesia (P<0.05). Compared with group C, the VAS scores of group P30 and group P60 were decreased 3 and 4 hours after labor analgesia, at full dilation of the cervix and during delivery (P<0.05). The VAS scores of group P60 at the uterus fully opened and delivery were lower than those in group P30 (P<0.05). The total drug consumption and the number of PCEA were decreased obviously in group P30 and group P60 (P<0.05). The effective frequency of PCEA in group P60 was less than that in group P30 (P<0.05). The analgesia satisfaction in group P60 was higher than that in group P30 and group C (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the duration of labor, Bromage score, occurrence of adverse reactions among the three groups.Conclusion PIEB provides reliable efficacy for labor analgesia and PIEB injection at an interval time of 60 min is an ideal method.