Key result
Epidural patient-controlled analgesia was at least as effective as a continuous infusion system in producing analgesia, with increased satisfaction and reduced local anaesthetic requirement.
Why the study?
Does epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) improve analgesia and satisfaction in obstetric patients compared to a continuous infusion system?
RCT (n=60)
Single-blind
randomised
Does epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) improve analgesia and satisfaction in obstetric patients compared to a continuous infusion system?
Epidural PCA provides effective analgesia with increased patient satisfaction and reduced local anesthetic requirement compared to continuous infusion in obstetric patients.
Supports epidural PCA over continuous infusion in obstetrics for higher satisfaction and reduced anesthetic use; extends RCT evidence for patient-controlled labor analgesia.
A randomised single-blind controlled study was made of 60 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device for obstetric management compared with a continuous infusion system. In both cases 0.125% plain bupivacaine was used. It was found that epidural PCA is at least as effective as an infusion system in producing analgesia and has the advantages of increased satisfaction and reduction of local anaesthetic requirement. Whether there are also advantages resulting from less obstetric intervention at delivery has not been proven.
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Curry et al. (1994) conducted an RCT in obstetric management (n=60). epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) vs. continuous infusion system was evaluated on effectiveness in producing analgesia. Epidural patient-controlled analgesia was at least as effective as a continuous infusion system in producing analgesia, with increased satisfaction and reduced local anaesthetic requirement.
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