Key result
Epidural infusions of different bupivacaine concentrations (0.125%, 0.062%, 0.031%) with diamorphine showed significant differences in top-up requirements and motor block, but not in pain scores.
Why the study?
Does varying the concentration of bupivacaine in epidural infusions with diamorphine affect top-up requirements, motor block, and pain scores in mothers in labour?
Does varying the concentration of bupivacaine in epidural infusions with diamorphine affect top-up requirements, motor block, and pain scores in mothers in labour?
Lower concentrations of bupivacaine in epidural infusions reduce motor block but do not affect pain scores or instrumental delivery rates.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May reduce motor block and top-up needs without affecting pain; hypothesis-generating for labour epidural dosing.
Three different concentrations of bupivacaine, 0.125%, 0.062% and 0.031%, all with diamorphine 0.0025%, were given as an epidural infusion at 10 ml.h-1 to 63 mothers in labour. When the three infusions were compared, significant differences were found in maternal requirements for top-ups and the degree of motor block, but there were no differences in the pain scores. The reduced motor block was not associated with a reduction in the instrumental delivery rate.
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Lowson et al. (1995) studied Labour (n=63). Bupivacaine and diamorphine epidural infusion vs. Different concentrations of bupivacaine was evaluated on Maternal requirements for top-ups, degree of motor block, and pain scores. Epidural infusions of different bupivacaine concentrations (0.125%, 0.062%, 0.031%) with diamorphine showed significant differences in top-up requirements and motor block, but not in pain scores.
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