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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07295080

Comparison of Dural Puncture Epidural and Standard Epidural Anesthesia Techniques in Elective Cesarean Deliveries

Neuraxial techniques are the most effective form of labor analgesia in contemporary obstetric anesthesia practice, predominantly through the use of epidural (EPL) and combined spinal-epidural (CSE) techniques. Although drug combinations employed in these methods have advanced, the onset time, block quality, and side effect profiles of both techniques still require further improvement.

The epidural technique is associated with minimal side effects; however, it may occasionally present variable block characteristics such as slow onset, inadequate sacral spread, unilateral or patchy sensory block, motor impairment, and epidural catheter failure.

The dural puncture epidural (DPE) technique is performed by inserting a spinal needle through the shaft of the epidural needle to create a single dural perforation, after which an epidural catheter is placed into the epidural space without administering any drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). All medications for analgesia or anesthesia are delivered into the epidural space via the catheter. The dural puncture is thought to provide a conduit that facilitates the translocation of drugs from the epidural space into the subarachnoid space, which is believed to account for the clinical features observed with the dural puncture epidural technique advantageous in obstetric patients. Additionally, the process of dural puncture with a spinal needle through the epidural needle allows cerebrospinal fluid return to serve as a "confirmatory" definitive endpoint for the position of the epidural needle tip within the epidural space.

The investigators designed this study to determine whether the dural puncture epidural technique, compared with epidural, could improve the onset time and block characteristics of anesthesia in elective cesarean deliveries.

Compared with the epidural technique, the dural puncture epidural approach has been shown to improve the onset of sacral block as well as the spread of anesthesia and analgesia-characteristics that are particularly advantageous in obstetric patients. Additionally, the process of dural puncture with a spinal needle through the epidural needle allows cerebrospinal fluid return to serve as a "confirmatory" definitive endpoint for the position of the epidural needle tip within the epidural space.

The investigators designed this study to determine whether the dural puncture epidural technique, compared with epidural, could improve the onset time and block characteristics of anesthesia in elective cesarean deliveries.

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Key information

Conditions

Regional Anaesthesia in Cesarean Operations

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ankara city hospital

Ankara, çankaya, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This study aims to evaluate the effects of dural puncture epidural (DPE) versus standard epidural anesthesia on the time to surgical anesthesia onset in patients scheduled for elective cesarean section.

  • Study Population:

Pregnant women undergoing elective cesarean section

  • Compared Techniques:

Dural Puncture Epidural Group → A dural puncture will be performed with a 27G spinal needle before the placement of the epidural catheter.

Standard Epidural Group → An epidural catheter will be placed directly without dural puncture.

  • Primary Outcome:

Time from anesthesia administration to onset of surgical anesthesia (defined as time to achieve sensory block at the T5 dermatome level).

  • Secondary Outcomes:

Incidence of hypotension

Intraoperative ephedrine requirement

Need for additional doses

Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH)

Time to regression of sensory block

Motor block assessment (Bromage scale)

Study Design:

Prospective: Patients will be identified before anesthesia administration and evaluated going forward.

Randomized: Patients will be randomly assigned to either the dural ponksiyon epidural or standard epidural group.

Controlled: The two groups will be compared to analyze the effects.

Single-Center: The study will be conducted at a single hospital. Inclusion Criteria

  • Women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery
  • No comorbidities
  • Age between 18-40 years
  • Body mass index (BMI) < 35 kg/m²
  • Term pregnancy ≥ 37 weeks
  • No contraindications to neuraxial anesthesia (e.g., coagulopathy, infection, history of prior spinal surgery, etc.)

Parameters to Be Assessed

All parameters will be assessed by the investigator both intraoperatively and postoperatively in the ward. These include:

  • Sensory block level (evaluated every minute as a study-specific parameter)
  • Blood pressure
  • Heart rate
  • Oxygen saturation
  • Requirement for ephedrine
  • Requirement for additional epidural doses
  • Incidence of post-dural puncture headache (at 24 and 48 hours)
  • Motor block assessment (using the Bromage Scale)

Note: All evaluated parameters are part of standard monitoring, with the exception that sensory block level will be specifically assessed every minute for the purposes of this study.

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Exclusion criteria

  • Contraindications to neuraxial anesthesia
  • Refusal to participate in the study

Withdrawal and Termination Criteria

  • Patient's decision to withdraw from the study
  • Conversion to general anesthesia
  • Administration of intrathecal and/or intravenous drugs

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery
  • No comorbidities
  • Age between 18-40 years
  • Body mass index (BMI) < 35 kg/m²
  • Term pregnancy ≥ 37 weeks
  • No contraindications to neuraxial anesthesia (e.g., coagulopathy, infection, history of prior spinal surgery, etc.)

Exclusion criteria

  • Contraindications to neuraxial anesthesia
  • Refusal to participate in the study

Treatment and study plan

Dural puncture epidural (DPE) anaesthesia

Other

The epidural space will be accessed using an 18G epidural needle, followed by dural puncture with a 27G spinal needle. Without administering any drug into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), an epidural catheter will then be inserted, through which anesthesia will be administered.Its placement will be confirmed with a test dose of 2 ml of 2% lidocaine. Following the test dose (after excluding signs of intrathecal or intravenous injection), a mixture consisting of 7.5 ml of 2% prilocaine, 7.5 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, and 100 µg of fentanyl (2 ml) will be administered in 5-ml increments at 3-minute intervals.

standart epidural anesthesia

Other

The epidural space will be accessed using an 18G epidural needle. An epidural catheter will then be inserted, through which anesthesia will be administered.Its placement will be confirmed with a test dose of 2 ml of 2% lidocaine. Following the test dose (after excluding signs of intrathecal or intravenous injection), a mixture consisting of 7.5 ml of 2% prilocaine, 7.5 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, and 100 µg of fentanyl (2 ml) will be administered in 5-ml increments at 3-minute intervals.

Primary outcomes

  1. onset time of sensory block

    Time frame: 20 minutes

    The time from the administration of anesthesia to the onset of surgical anesthesia (the time it takes for the sensory block to reach the Thoracic 5 (T5) dermatome).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incidence of hypotension

    Time frame: perioperative

    a 20% reduction from baseline blood pressure

  2. intraoperative ephedrine requirement

    Time frame: perioperative

    total intraoperative ephedrine dose

  3. requirement for supplementery dosing

    Time frame: perioperative

    Failure to achieve sensory block at the Torakal 5 (T5) level within 20 minutes or the occurrence of perioperative pain

  4. Postdural puncture headache (PDPH)

    Time frame: day 2

    Postoperative headaches will be evaluated at the 24th and 48th hours using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  5. Time to the onset of sensory block regression

    Time frame: day 1

    The duration of sensory block regression from the Thoracic 5 (T5) to the Thoracic 10 (T10) and Lumbar 1 (L1) dermatomal levels

  6. Assessment of motor block

    Time frame: day 1

    The degree of motor block will be assessed using the Bromage score

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ankara City Hospital Bilkent

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Dec 19, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 10, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.