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Two Different Sized Spinal Needles DPE vs Conventional Epidural Technique
Sponsor: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
Summary
DPEA (Dural Puncture Epidural Analgesia) is an alternative to the conventional epidural analgesia and technically a Combined Spinal Epidural (CSE) with omission of intrathecal drugs administration. To date, literature has proved several advantages of the DPEA techniquecompared to conventional epidural. However, these advantages are supposed to be limited to the use of 25 Gauge spinal needles. The aim of this project is to compare the quality of analgesia achieved after a DPEA technique performed with a 25 Gauge spinal needle versus a 27 Gauge spinal needle versus a conventional epidural, with a PIEB pump installed for analgesia maintenance. The Primary outcome will be the quality of analgesia, defined as the area under the curve (AUC) of the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS 100-0) ≤ 30 measured throughout labor and divided by labor duration (TWA-NPRS). 240 nulliparous women between the 36th and 42nd gestational week in active labor and with a cervical dilation ≤ 5 cm will be randomized according to a computer-generated random number sequence to receive a DPEA with a 25 Gauge spinal needle, a DPEA with a 27 Gauge spinal needle, or a conventional epidural.
Official title: Dural Pubcture Epidural Performed With Two Different Sized Spinal Needles vs Conventional Epidural Technique: a Triple Randomized Comparison to Evaluate Quality of Labor Analgesia
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
10 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
240
Start Date
2026-08-01
Completion Date
2027-12-31
Last Updated
2026-07-29
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Dural Puncture Epidural Analgesia 27G
Patients will receive an intentional dural puncture with a 27 Gauge Whitacre spinal needle, using the needle-through-needle technique.
Dural Puncture Epidural Analgesia 25G
Patients will receive an intentional dural puncture with a 27 Gauge Whitacre spinal needle, using the needle-through-needle technique.
Conventional epidural
Patients will receive a conventional epidural (the epidural space will be identified using a 18 Gauge Tuohy needle).