CONTINUOUS EXTRADURAL ANALGESIA - COMPARISON OF MIDWIFE TOP-UPS, CONTINUOUS INFUSIONS AND PATIENT CONTROLLED ADMINISTRATION

We have compared three techniques used to provide extradural analgesia during th e first stage of labour: 0.25% plain bupivacaine 10 ml demand top-ups delivered by the midwife; continuous infusion of 0.125% plain bupivacaine 10 ml h-1; and patient- controlled extradural analgesia (PCEA) delivering 3-ml boluses of 0.25 % bupivacaine. Each technique produced comparable analgesia achieving equivalent maternal satisfaction, with no difference in mode of delivery and no complications. This regimen for PCEA proved a viable alternative for continuous extradural analgesia and was popular with the mothers, midwives and anaesthetists.