Labor Pain — Association Between Bolus Rate and the Adequacy of Labor Analgesia Using Timed-intermittent Boluses
Citation(s)
Capogna G, Camorcia M, Stirparo S, Farcomeni A Programmed intermittent epidural bolus versus continuous epidural infusion for labor analgesia: the effects on maternal motor function and labor outcome. A randomized double-blind study in nulliparous women. Anesth Analg. 2011 Oct;113(4):826-31. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e31822827b8. Epub 2011 Jul 25.
Chua SM, Sia AT Automated intermittent epidural boluses improve analgesia induced by intrathecal fentanyl during labour. Can J Anaesth. 2004 Jun-Jul;51(6):581-5.
Hogan Q Distribution of solution in the epidural space: examination by cryomicrotome section. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2002 Mar-Apr;27(2):150-6.
Lim Y, Sia AT, Ocampo C Automated regular boluses for epidural analgesia: a comparison with continuous infusion. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2005 Oct;14(4):305-9.
Wong CA, McCarthy RJ, Hewlett B The effect of manipulation of the programmed intermittent bolus time interval and injection volume on total drug use for labor epidural analgesia: a randomized controlled trial. Anesth Analg. 2011 Apr;112(4):904-11. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e31820e7c2f.
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
