The effect of programmed intermittent epidural bolus compared with continuous epidural infusion in labor analgesia with ropivacaine: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background: Programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) as a new technique for labor analgesia has aroused extensive attention. The character of separation of the motor block to sensory block makes ropivacaine becoming an important local anesthetic for labor analgesia. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to assess the efficiency and safety of PIEB regime compared to continuous epidural infusion (CEI) regime on labor analgesia with ropivacaine following the evidence emerged newly. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library were searched for potential articles. Eligible studies should meet these criterions: (I) healthy women; (II) it should compare PIEB and CEI; (III) ropivacaine should be use as local anesthetic for the maintenance of analgesia; (IV) the study should report the any of the outcomes we need. Maternal satisfaction, consumption of ropivacaine and duration of labor as well as the adverse effect were used to measure the efficacy and safety of those two regimes. Mean difference (MD), relative risk (RR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to present the final results. Results: Ten articles of randomized controlled trials and 3,790 subjects were eventually included in study. The pooled results showed that PIEB with ropivacaine significantly improved satisfaction (MD, 7.87; 95% CI: 6.02 to 9.72; I2=0%; P<0.001), reduced the local anesthetic (milligram) in total (MD, −10.37 milligrams; 95% CI: −17.70 to −3.03; I2=94%; P<0.001) and hourly (MD, −1.80 milligrams; 95% CI: −2.62 to −0.98; I2=56%; P<0.001). PIEB shortened the second stage of labor but has similar total duration of labor and it also decrease the incidence of motor block compare to CEI. There were no differences in mode of delivery and rescue bolus between two groups. Conclusions: This study shows that PIEB regime was associated with higher satisfaction, lower consumption of ropivacaine in hours and totally, and shorter duration of second stage of labor compared to CEI in analgesia with ropivacaine during childbirth. PIEB regime has greater safety on fetus and maternity than CEI regime and it decreased the incidence of motor block without increasing other side effects compared to CEI.