Continuous compared with intermittent epidural infusion on progress of labor and patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To compare continuous with intermittent epidural infusion on the duration of labor and patients' satisfaction in nulliparous women.

METHODS: Nulliparous women who requested epidural analgesia during labor were randomly allocated to receive either a continuous infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine with 2 microg/mL fentanyl at a rate of 8 mL/h (group A) or intermittent bolus of 10 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine on demand (group B). Controls were nulliparous women who did not receive epidural analgesia (group C). Included were singleton term pregnancies with cervical dilatation between 2 cm and 5 cm. A comparison was made between the groups regarding the duration of the active phase and the second stage of labor and patients' satisfaction. Secondary outcomes investigated were the mode of delivery, analgesia-related complications, and intrapartum and postpartum complications. Cord pH and Apgar score measured neonatal outcome.

RESULTS: Sixty-three parturients were randomly assigned to receive continuous infusion, and 64 received intermittent bolus infusion. Sixty-three patients served as controls. Mean duration of the active phase and the second stage of labor were not statistically different between groups A and B. Each technique produced comparable analgesia, achieving equivalent maternal satisfaction, with no apparent complications. The active phase of labor was prolonged by an average of 60 minutes and the 2nd stage by an average of 36 minutes regardless of the type of epidural compared with controls. The mode of delivery and maternal and neonatal outcome were not significantly different among the 3 groups.

CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that both continuous and intermittent epidural infusion produce comparable analgesia achieving equivalent maternal satisfaction with no difference regarding the duration of labor between them. Although patients receiving epidural analgesia experienced longer labors compared with controls, both mothers and neonates were unharmed.