Comparison of Programmed Intermittent Epidural Boluses with Continuous Epidural Infusion for the Maintenance of Labor Analgesia: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Study.

(Anesth Analg. 2020;130:426–435) Continuous epidural infusion (CEI) for labor analgesia is highly effective and reduces the workload for providers compared with provider-administered boluses. Local anesthetic consumption is also higher with CEI, however, which may lead to complications in delivery. Programmed intermittent epidural boluses (PIEB) with patient-controlled analgesia may reduce local anesthetic consumption compared with CEI while improving patient satisfaction. Previous studies comparing PIEB using commercially available pumps with continuous infusion yielded unclear results. This was a randomized prospective study comparing CEI with PIEB in terms of labor analgesia and maternal and neonatal outcomes.