Patient-controlled Epidural Analgesia during Labor

72 parturients in active labor

Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using 0.125% bupivacaine alone, with fentanyl 1 micrograms/ml, or with fentanyl 1 micrograms/ml and 1:400,000 epinephrine (programmed to deliver 6 ml/h basal infusion, 4 ml on-demand boluses, 10-min lockout, 20 ml hourly limit)

Physician-controlled continuous epidural infusion (CEI) using 0.125% bupivacaine (begun at 12-16 ml/h and adjusted to maintain T10 sensory level)

Efficacy and local anesthetic usage (average hourly infusion rates)