[Maintenance of obstetrical analgesia by continuous perfusion into the peridural space]

Two methods of epidural analgesia were compared in two randomized groups each of 16 normal women in labour, using bolus or continuous infusion. Analgesia was provided by a mixture of bupivacaine 0.25% and fentanyl. Patients did not differ in age, weight, term as well as in parity and neonatal weight. Group A received a total dose of 34 +/- 7.5 mg bupivacaine and 87 +/- 23.8 micrograms fentanyl as a bolus and group B a total dose 40.6 +/- 11.5 mg bupivacaine and 131 +/- 43.5 micrograms fentanyl as a starter dose followed by constant infusion. There was no statistical difference between the two groups concerning length of labour, number of forceps, Apgar score and patient, obstetrician and anaesthetist satisfaction score. Although continuous epidural infusion was greatly appreciated by the obstetrical team, it would seem to be of interest only when labour is long enough to require larger doses, especially when labour is induced.