Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus Time Interval and Injection Volume

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Labor Pain

In brief

Studies suggest that administration of maintenance epidural solutions as programmed or automated intermittent boluses, rather than continuous infusions, result in lower bupivacaine consumption, decreased need for manual boluses by the anesthesiologist, and greater patient satisfaction. In this technique, the epidural maintenance dose is administered as a bolus by the infusion pump at regular intervals instead of as a continuous infusion. However, the optimal combination of bolus volume and dosing interval has not been determined. At one end of the spectrum, a small volume and short bolus dose interval will likely behave like a continuous infusion. At the other end of the spectrum, a large volume and long bolus dose interval may lead to an increased incidence of breakthrough pain. The purpose of this randomized, double-blind trial was to determine how manipulation of the programmed intermittent time interval and volume influences total drug use, quality of analgesia, and patient satisfaction during maintenance of labor analgesia. We hypothesized that manipulation of the programmed intermittent bolus time interval and volume during the maintenance of epidural labor analgesia influences total drug use, quality of analgesia and patient satisfaction.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT00417027
Run by
Northwestern University
People needed
190
Starts
2006-08-01
Expected to finish
2009-04-01
Last updated by the study team
2014-04-14

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 45. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

You may not qualify if…

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.