Combined Spinal-Epidural Versus Traditional Labor Epidural

Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSE) was developed to allow excellent pain control for the pregnant woman who arrives in advanced labor and does not have much time for the anesthetic to have its effect. This has been extended recently to women in all stages of labor because of its rapid and excellent control of pain. Recent case series comparing CSE with traditional epidural have shown a slight difference in the rate of hypotension and fetal bradycardia, with the CSE technique having a higher rate of both of these side effects. This study will compare the two techniques in a prospective, randomized method.

The aim is to compare the maternal and fetal effects of two neuraxial block techniques for pain control during labor, to document blood pressure changes in upper and lower extremities pre- and post- block placement, and to document side effects (e.g. pruritus) and patient satisfaction with both techniques.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient is able to read, understand and voluntarily sign the approved informed consent form (ICF) prior to any study- specific procedure;
• Must be between 18 to 50 years of age.
• Must be carrying a singleton fetus at term.
• Must have less than a body mass index of 40.
• Must be in labor, or is having a medical induction of labor.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient who has chronic renal disease, pre-existing hypertension, or pre-eclampsia.
• Patient who is undergoing an elective cesarean delivery
• Patient who has a presence of non-reassuring fetal status
• Patient who has an abnormal or non-reassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern