There appears to be little basis for offering CSE over epidurals in labour, with no difference in overall maternal satisfaction despite a slightly faster onset with CSE and conversely less pruritus with low-dose epidurals. There was no difference in ability to mobilise, maternal hypotension, rate of caesarean birth or neonatal outcome. However, the significantly higher incidence of urinary retention, rescue interventions and instrumental deliveries with traditional techniques would favour the use of low-dose epidurals. It is not possible to draw any meaningful conclusions regarding rare complications such as nerve injury and meningitis.
A randomized trial of breakthrough pain during combined spinal-epidural versus epidural labor analgesia in parous women.
There is controversy regarding the benefits and risks of combined spinal-epidural compared with epidural analgesia (CSE, EPID) for labor analgesia. We hypothesized that CSE would result in fewer patient requests for top-up doses compared to EPID.
                One-hundred ASA physical status I or II parous women at term in early labor (<5 cm cervical dilation) requesting analgesia were randomized in double-blind fashion to the EPID group (epidural bupivacaine 2.5 mg/mL, 3 mL, followed by bupivacaine 1.25 mg/mL, 10 mL with fentanyl 50 microg) or the CSE group (intrathecal bupivacaine 2.5 mg with fentanyl 25 microg). Both groups received identical infusions of bupivacaine 0.625 mg/mL with fentanyl 2 microg/mL at 12 mL/h. The primary outcome variable was the number of top-up doses requested to treat breakthrough pain.
                There was no significant difference between the two groups in the percentage of patients requesting top-up doses (44% CSE vs 51% EPID; 95% confidence interval of the difference -28% to +14%) nor in the need for multiple top-up doses (14% CSE vs 15% EPID). Visual analog scale scores were lower in the CSE group compared to the EPID group at 10 min after initiation of analgesia [median 0 cm (0, 0) vs 4 cm (1, 6) respectively, P < 0.001] and at 30 min [0 cm (0, 0) vs 0 cm (0, 1), respectively, P = 0.03].
                We did not find a difference in the need for top-up doses in parous patients; however, CSE provided better analgesia in the first 30 min compared to EPID.