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Epidural vs. Dural Puncture Epidural in Labor Analgesia
Sponsor: Medipol University
Summary
Childbirth is an intense physical and psychological experience. Epidural analgesia (EP) remains the gold standard in labor pain management. However, continuous refinements are aimed at enhancing analgesic quality and mitigating adverse effects. In recent years, the dural puncture epidural (DPE) technique has gained popularity. In this technique, the dura is intentionally punctured with a spinal needle before the epidural catheter is placed, but no intrathecal medication is administered. This historically controlled study evaluates the clinical outcomes of a protocol transition from standard high-dose epidural to low-dose DPE. The primary objective is to compare total analgesic consumption and success rates of labor analgesia between the two techniques. The secondary objectives include the assessment of hemodynamic parameters, motor block characteristics, adverse effects (such as paresthesia and hypotension), and overall maternal satisfaction
Official title: Comparison of Standard Epidural and Dural Puncture Epidural Techniques in Labor Analgesia
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
18 Years - 40 Years
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
100
Start Date
2025-03-10
Completion Date
2025-12-20
Last Updated
2026-08-24
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Standard Epidural Analgesia
Administration of conventional epidural analgesia using an 18G Tuohy needle for catheter placement and subsequent administration of a standardized dose of bupivacaine with fentanyl.
Dural Puncture Epidural Analgesia
Administration of epidural analgesia that incorporates a dural puncture with a 27G spinal needle prior to epidural catheter placement, followed by the same standardized dose of bupivacaine with fentanyl.
Locations (1)
Medipol University
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)