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Review
. 2023 Dec;37(6):945-960.
doi: 10.1007/s00540-023-03253-w. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Programmed intermittent epidural bolus in maintenance of epidural labor analgesia: a literature review

Fanshu Ni  1 , Ziyi Wu  1 , Ping Zhao  2
Affiliations
Review

Programmed intermittent epidural bolus in maintenance of epidural labor analgesia: a literature review

Fanshu Ni et al. J Anesth. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB), administered by the infusion pump programmed to deliver boluses of epidural solution at certain intervals, is gradually gaining more attention as a technique to maintain the labor analgesia in recent years. Many studies find that it may have some advantages when compared with other methods. However, its exact effectiveness and optimal regimen are still unclear. We conducted a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for studies published between January 2010 and June 2022. Of the 263 publications identified, 27 studies were included. The purpose of this review is to discuss the effects of PIEB with continuous epidural infusion (CEI) and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) in maintenance of epidural labor analgesia on labor outcomes and elucidate the latest research progress of implementation strategies.

Keywords: Epidural analgesia; Labor outcome; Labor pain; Programmed intermittent epidural bolus; Strategies.

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References

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