Walking with labor epidural analgesia - The impact of bupivacaine concentration and a lidocaine-epinephrine test dose

Background: Regional analgesia techniques for labor that permit ambulation are popular among parturients, This study evaluated the influence of bupivacaine bolus concentration and a 3-ml 1.5% lidocaine-epinephrine test dose, on analgesic effectiveness and the ability to walk after block placement. Methods: Using a randomized double-blind study design, epidural analgesia was initiated in 60 parturients undergoing labor as follows: Group TD/B.0625 received a 3-ml lidocaine-epinephrine test dose + 12 ml bupivacaine, 0.0625%; group TD/ B.125 received a 3-ml test dose + 12 mi bupivacaine, 0.125%; group B,0625 received 15 mi bupivacaine, 0.0625% (no test dose); and group B,125 received 15 mi bupivacaine, 0.125% (no test dose). Initial boluses in all groups contained 10 mu g sufentanil. Bupivacaine, 0.0625%, with 0.33 mu g/ml sufentanil was infused throughout labor at 13.5--15 ml/h. Analgesia balance, proprioception, motor block, and patient ability to stand and walk were evaluated at various intervals. Results: A bolus of 0.125% bupivacaine containing sufentanil, without a previous test dose, proved to be optimal with respect to analgesia and early ambulation. When a test dose was given before bupivacaine, 0,125%, fewer women walked within 1 h of block placement. Bupivacaine, 0.0625%, with sufentanil, with or without a test dose, provided inadequate analgesia, necessitating additional bupivacaine, which impaired the ability to walk. A high percentage of women in all groups (73-33%) walked at some stage during labor. Conclusions: Omitting a lidocaine-epinephrine test dose and using 0.125% bupivacaine for the initial bolus should permit ambulation in the early postblock period for most parturients who elect this option.