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Updated: May 12, 2026

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia
Published on: January 31, 2025
Techniques for the maintenance of epidural labor analgesia
Giorgio Capogna1, Silvia Stirparo
1Department of Anesthesia, Città di Roma Hospital, Rome, Italy. dipartimento.anestesia@gruppogarofalo.com
Purpose Of Review:
After initiating neuraxial labor analgesia, there are many techniques that can be used to maintain analgesia for the duration of labor. In this review, we have examined the new techniques of maintenance of epidural labor analgesia recently proposed to overcome the undesirable effects of continuous infusion and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA).
Recent Findings:
As labor progresses, there is a greater need for analgesia. PCEA with basal infusion, automated intermittent mandatory boluses, programmed intermittent epidural boluses and computer-integrated PCEA have been introduced to combine the advantages of a manual bolus and continuous infusion, thus matching infusion rate and bolus modality to the patient's analgesic needs. Increased maternal satisfaction, reduced anesthetic consumption and decreased incidence of motor block are features of these new maintenance techniques.
Summary:
Technology has now provided us with more advanced drug delivery systems that may have the potential to fulfill the maternal requirements of a safe, natural, and painless childbirth, tailoring the analgesic regimen for each parturient's need.
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