Abstract
The programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) technique offers multiple benefits over continuous epidural infusion (CEI), but controversy still exists when it is used in conjunction with a parturient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) regimen. A systematic review and meta-analysis was thus conducted using the Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Web of Science databases with the aim of identifying those randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that performed a comparison between PIEB and CEI in healthy parturients using a PCEA regimen with regard to the duration of labor, labor pain, anesthesia interventions, maternal satisfaction and main side effects. The data were analyzed using a random-effects model. Eleven eligible trials were included, in which 717 participants were allocated to the PIEB + PCEA group and 650 patients were allocated to the CEI + PCEA group. The rate of instrumental delivery, incidence of breakthrough pain, PCEA usage rates and local anesthetic usage were significantly reduced, the labor duration was statistically shorter, and the maternal satisfaction score was significantly improved in the PIEB + PCEA group compared with that in the CEI + PCEA group. There were no differences in the side effects between the two groups. The results of the present study suggest that the PIEB technique in conjunction with the PCEA regimen was more advantageous than CEI + PCEA, but additional studies should be conducted to consistently demonstrate an improvement in the maternal and fetal obstetric outcomes.
Highlights
The programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) technique offers multiple benefits over continuous epidural infusion (CEI), but controversy still exists when it is used in conjunction with a parturientcontrolled epidural analgesia (PCEA) regimen
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using the Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Web of Science databases with the aim of identifying those randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that performed a comparison between PIEB and CEI in healthy parturients using a PCEA regimen with regard to the duration of labor, labor pain, anesthesia interventions, maternal satisfaction and main side effects
It has been acknowledged that patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) is an effective method of labor analgesia that has been associated with superior maternal satisfaction and a lower incidence of adverse events compared with other analgesia techniques[4,5]; the PCEA regimen without a background infusion is not beneficial for decreasing pain scores of the parturient and the workload of the medical staff
Summary
The programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) technique offers multiple benefits over continuous epidural infusion (CEI), but controversy still exists when it is used in conjunction with a parturientcontrolled epidural analgesia (PCEA) regimen. The rate of instrumental delivery, incidence of breakthrough pain, PCEA usage rates and local anesthetic usage were significantly reduced, the labor duration was statistically shorter, and the maternal satisfaction score was significantly improved in the PIEB + PCEA group compared with that in the CEI + PCEA group. It has been acknowledged that patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) is an effective method of labor analgesia that has been associated with superior maternal satisfaction and a lower incidence of adverse events compared with other analgesia techniques[4,5]; the PCEA regimen without a background infusion is not beneficial for decreasing pain scores of the parturient and the workload of the medical staff. The aim of this systemic review and meta-analysis was to compare whether PIEB in conjunction with PCEA in healthy pregnancy improved delivery mode, labor analgesia, patient satisfaction, maternal and neonatal obstetric outcomes compared to the CEI + PCEA regimens
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