( Int J Obstet Anesth . 2025;61:104327. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2024.104327) Labor epidural analgesia (LEA) is widely recognized as the most effective form of pain relief during labor and is used by the majority of laboring women in the United States. However, previous research has shown that women of color are less likely to receive neuraxial analgesia, contributing to poorer labor pain control and higher rates of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery (CD), which carries additional risks. The aim of this study was to determine if racial disparities exist in the time it takes to replace a nonfunctional labor epidural catheter, which is critical for pain management and maternal outcomes.
Clifton et al. (2025) studied this question.