Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Epidural analgesia was introduced to the world of obstetrics in 1909 by Walter Stoeckel. Over the following 100 years it has developed to become the gold-standard for delivery of intra-partum analgesia, with between 60 and 75% of North American parturients receiving an epidural during their labor. Effective labor analgesia has been shown to improve maternal and fetal outcomes. One aspect of catheter insertion that has not been fully evaluated, and with very little recent work undertaken, is the optimal length of epidural catheter to be left in the epidural space. Dislodgement or displacement of epidural catheter remains a significant cause for failure with analgesia. Novel methods of fixation may further reduce the risk of catheter migration. Another factor is the direction of travel within the epidural space, only 13% of lumbar catheters remain uncoiled after insertion of more than 4 cm into the epidural space. Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that catheters inserted to 4 cm will have a lower rate of failure when compared to those inserted to 5 cm. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the difference in quality of labor analgesia delivered by epidural catheters inserted to either 4 or 5 cm into the epidural space. This study will be conducted as an interventional double-blinded randomised control trial to establish best practice.


Clinical Trial Description

Effective labor analgesia has been shown to improve maternal and fetal outcomes. It is of paramount importance to the obstetric anesthesiologist to optimize the quality of labor analgesia and identify any factors leading to ineffective epidural analgesia. One aspect of catheter insertion that has not been fully evaluated, and with very little recent work undertaken, is the optimal length of epidural catheter to be left in the epidural space. Previous studies have advocated, for varying reasons, different lengths of catheter to be left in the space; these range from 2cm to 8cm. Longer epidural lengths in the space can be associated with foraminal escape, leading to unilateral block, and intravascular insertion, prompting additional manipulation. Shorter lengths have previously been associated with more frequent dislodgement. The directionality of the epidural catheter once in the space has been demonstrated to correlate with misdirection. The aim of the study would be to standardize practice in how much epidural catheter is threaded into the epidural space. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT04946032
Study type Interventional
Source Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
Contact Mrinalini Balki, MD
Phone 416-586-4800
Email mrinalini.balki@uhn.ca
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date November 23, 2021
Completion date December 2024

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT03539562 - Therapeutic Rest to Delay Admission in Early Labor: A Prospective Study on Morphine Sleep
Not yet recruiting NCT04662450 - Evaluation and Management of Parturients' Pain Intensity N/A
Completed NCT02885350 - Spinal or Epidural Fentanyl or Sufentanil for Labour Pain in Early Phase of the Labour Phase 4
Completed NCT02550262 - Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus for Labor Analgesia During First Stage of Labor N/A
Completed NCT01598506 - Intrathecal Hydromorphone for Labor Analgesia Phase 2
Withdrawn NCT01636999 - Comparing Sedara to Butorphanol in Early Labor N/A
Completed NCT00987441 - Epidural Labor Analgesia and Infant Neurobehavior N/A
Completed NCT00755092 - Effect of Doula in Nulliparas and Multiparas N/A
Terminated NCT00787176 - The Association Between Fluid Administration, Oxytocin Administration, and Fetal Heart Rate Changes N/A
Recruiting NCT06036797 - Efficacy and Safety of Hydromorphone-ropivacaine Versus Sufentanil-ropivacaine for Epidural Labor Analgesia Phase 2
Recruiting NCT05512065 - Changes in Velocimetric Indices of Uterine and Umbilical Arteries Before and After Combined Spinal-epidural Analgesia in Laboring Women N/A
Completed NCT05327088 - Epidural Dexmedetomidine vs Nalbuphine for Labor Analgesia Phase 2
Completed NCT03103100 - Comparing Bupivacaine, Lidocaine, and a Combination of Bupivacaine and Lidocaine for Labor Epidural Activation Phase 3
Recruiting NCT03623256 - Comparison of Intrathecal Versus Epidural Fentanyl on Fetal Bradycardia in Labor Combined Spinal Epidural Analgesia Phase 4
Active, not recruiting NCT02271100 - Assessment of the Use of Ultrasound for Epidural Catheter Placement and Comparison With Palpation Technique N/A
Completed NCT02926469 - Virtual Reality Analgesia in Labor: The VRAIL Pilot Study N/A
Completed NCT03712735 - Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus For Laboring Obstetrical Women Phase 4
Not yet recruiting NCT05565274 - Outcome of Combined Tramadol and Paracetamol Versus Pentazocine as Labour Analgesia Among Parturients N/A
Recruiting NCT01708668 - The Effects of Intermittent Epidural Bolus on Fever During Labor Analgesia N/A
Recruiting NCT02575677 - Oxycodone in Treatment of Early Labour Pain Efficacy and Safety