Thirty one healthy women, ASA physical status 1-2 with an uncomplicated pregnancy and single fetus in vertex position were given lumbar epidural analgesia. After the initial injection of 0.25% bupivacaine(with 1 : 400,000 epinephrine) 8-10ml and
fentanyl 50-75 ㎍, the parturients were divided randomly assigned to either continuous infusion group or intermittent infusion group. Intermittent infusion group received 0.125% bupivacine(with or without 1 : 800, 000 epinephrine) 10-12ml and
fentanyl
50-75 ㎍. Continuous infusion group received 0.125% bupivacaine and fentanyl 2 ㎍/ml at a rate of 8-10ml/hr.
There was no significant difference between two groups in duration of epidural infusion, duration of the second stage of labor, duration of pushing, motor block at delivery, mode of delivery and Apgar scores.
15 of 16(94%) women in the intermittent group, and 11 of 12(92%) women in the continuous group had analgesia of excellent or good quality.
The number of refill-doses was 1.8±1.5 in intermittent group and 1.6±1.5 in continuous group, nonsignificantly different. The total dose of bupivacaine administered during epidural analgesia was more in continuous group in intermittent group
significantly. However mean hourly dose of bupivacaine and fentanyl were similar in both groups.
It is concluded that the maintenance of epidural anangesia by continuous infusion is a safe and reliable method and may be advantageous and less labor intensive than the traditional intermittent technique.
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