16 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
To evaluate the levels of morphine in a patient's blood when morphine is given into the epidural space in the form of DepoDur® either alone or following a dose of lidocaine also given in the epidural space.
The purpose of the study is to learn more about a new device, the EpiZact Epidural Device, that may be helpful for reducing the likelihood of wet tap when a labor epidural is placed. When epidurals are placed correctly the needle stops just in front of the space in the body that contains cerebrospinal fluid. When the epidural is advanced a short distance further, leakage of cerebrospinal fluid can occur. This is known as a wet tap. A wet tap can result in a severe headache and at times other complications. The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the use of the EpiZact device prevents wet taps in pregnant women receiving epidurals for relief of labor pain. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. What the rate of wet tap with the EpiZact device? 2. What is the rate of failed epidural placement with the EpiZact device? All patients in the study will receive an epidural with the EpiZact device. The investigators will compare the results with patients not in the study that receive an epidural without the EpiZact device.
The investigators intend to perform a large randomized trial using standardized obstetrical and anesthetic practice at a single institution to determine the effects of patient controlled epidural analgesia on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes.
There have been studies reporting that combined spinal-epidural (CSE) with fentanyl and bupivacaine produce fetal bradycardia, (M.Kuczkowski, 2004) (Abrão K, 2009 ). It is unknown whether any differences in risk exist between fentanyl and bupivacaine when used as a part of the CSE procedure. Some authors have reported cases of parturients who developed uterine hyperactivity and fetal bradycardia after subarachnoid administration of fentanyl during labor. (D'Angelo \& Eisenach, 1997) (Friedlander JD, 1997). It has been suggested that uterine hypertonus, leading to non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracings, might be an etiologic factor in these situations. (Landau, 2002). We propose this study to test the hypothesis that administration of epidural fentanyl is associated with a lower incidence of fetal bradycardia compared to intrathecal fentanyl.
The investigators are interested in determining the utility of ultrasound of the spine for labor epidurals or spinal anesthesia for women in labor or having a cesarean delivery. The investigators hypothesized that in women with poor spinal landmarks that the use of ultrasound of the spine will improve the process of placing labor epidurals or spinal anesthetics
This is a data base building project on the use of pre-procedure ultrasound for the performance of labor epidural pain relief and spinal anesthesia for cesarean deliveries. Data collection includes ultrasound measured depth, actual needle depth, angle of ultrasound probe, actual needle angle, success rates, patient height and weight, number of attempts needed to place the epidural needle or spinal needle. Currently we are looking at the agreement between ultrasound determined depth of the epidural space or intrathecal space with actual needle depth.
The purpose of this study is to explore the differences between the pain associated with epidural Tuohy needle insertion with prior administration of subcutaneous or intradermal lidocaine using two different pain assessment tools (numerical rate scale (NRS) and Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)) in parturient women requesting epidural analgesia for laboring pain. Subjects will go through the following study procedures: review of medical history prior to surgery. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of the two study groups in a 1:1 ratio to one of the two different standard methods to administer lidocaine prior to epidural Tuohy needle insertion: intradermal or subcutaneous lidocaine administration. Prior to insertion of the Tuohy epidural needle, each patient will receive an injection of 3 mL 1% lidocaine either intradermally (Group Intradermal) or subcutaneously (Group Subcutaneous). A blinded observer (positioned in front of the patient and unable to see the procedure) will record baseline NRS scores, HR, and BP after the patient has been positioned for the epidural procedure and prior to the administration of lidocaine. During the procedure, the blinded observer will objectively record patient's vocal responses, facial expressions, bodily movements, and muscle tension (caused by pain reflex) using the CPOT and NRS scales during lidocaine administration and the first Tuohy needle insertion. After each injection, the blinded observer will record the corresponding heart rate. When the procedural anesthesiologist has exited the room, the blinded observer will then collect the patient's procedure satisfaction score from 0 (worst satisfaction) to 10 (most satisfaction) at the conclusion of the procedure. Likewise, the blinded observer will also collect the final post-procedure heart rate and blood pressure.
Failure of labor epidural is a well-recognized situation in obstetric anesthesia practice. Incidence of epidural failure was shown to be 12% in a retrospective analysis of 19,259 deliveries. Epidural migration has been documented in both the obstetric and non-obstetric settings. It has been argued that prevention of epidural displacement is a potential remedy to at least part of the incomplete or failed epidurals in obstetrics. Purpose: The investigators propose this study to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of the three types of epidural catheter dressings that are currently in use in clinical practice, in terms of catheter migration, taking into consideration the influence of body mass index on this variable.
The purpose of this study is to determine the ideal dosage of intrathecal morphine for intra and post partum analgesia, while minimizing the side effect profile.
The objective of this study will be to compare epidural infusion management, specifically looking at infusion rate changes, in patients who receive forceps deliveries versus normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries. We will match patients based on time and date of delivery, as well as parity, in order to eliminate these variables as potential con-founders. We hypothesize patients who require a decrease in their basal labor analgesia epidural infusion rate will have an increased incidence of forceps delivery.
The purpose of this study is to see if an educational intervention provided to pregnant women in early labor has an effect on their decision to use epidural anesthesia for relief of labor pain. The study will also investigate differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women in their attitudes and beliefs regarding epidurals in labor. Previous studies have shown that Hispanic women receive epidural anesthesia in labor much less frequently than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. The investigators hypothesize that the rate of epidural use will be higher in subjects who receive the educational intervention than in those who do not. Women who have been admitted to the OHSU labor and delivery unit will be screened for study eligibility. In order to minimize the influence of socioeconomic factors, only women receiving Medicaid will be enrolled. Other inclusion criteria include age of at least 18 years, having a fetus of at least 24 weeks gestational age, and being categorized as American Society of Anesthesiologist category 1 to 3. Exclusion criteria include any condition that either excludes or mandates neuraxial anesthesia. Midwife patients are also excluded from this study. Those who meet study criteria will be approached by a member of the study team and informed consent will be obtained. Subjects will be randomly assigned to receive an educational intervention about epidurals or no educational intervention. Hispanic and non-Hispanic subjects will be randomized separately, yielding four study groups (Hispanic - intervention; Hispanic - control; non-Hispanic - intervention, non-Hispanic - control). The investigators expect to enroll approximately 176 women, 44 in each group. All subjects will complete a survey in early labor and again 1 to 2 days postpartum that asks about common beliefs and misconceptions regarding epidurals. Subjects in the intervention group will receive an educational pamphlet and watch a video in their native language (spanish or english) about epidurals, and have an opportunity to ask questions. Study staff will collect limited information about the subject's labor and delivery from the electronic medical record.
Neuraxial labor analgesia is performed by the administration of a local anesthetic/opioid mixture in the epidural space. The delivery method is a combination of continuous infusion, provider-administered boluses and patient-administered boluses (patient controlled epidural analgesia \[PCEA\]) via epidural catheter. The anesthetic solution administered through the lumbar epidural catheter must spread cephalad in the epidural space to reach the T10 nerve roots and spinal cord, and must spread caudad to reach the caudal nerve roots in the epidural space. Epidural infusion pumps capable of delivering PIEB of local anesthetic with PCEA have become commercially available and many studies have attempted to assess the optimal parameter settings (including volume of programmed bolus, bolus interval, rate of bolus administration) to provide superior labor analgesia. Traditionally higher concentration local anesthetic solutions have been associated with increased motor blockade leading to a higher incidence of instrumental vaginal delivery. Several local anesthetic solutions with varying drug concentrations are available for labor analgesia and are used clinically in the United States. We plan to perform a randomized, controlled, double-blind study to test the hypothesis that patients whose labor analgesia is maintained using PIEB with low-volume bolus (6.25 mL) of a higher local anesthetic concentration solution (0.1% bupivacaine with fentanyl 2.0 mcg/mL) will require less supplemental analgesia (manual provider re-doses) than patients whose PIEB is delivered with a high-volume bolus (10 mL) of lower density local anesthetic solution (0.0625% bupivacaine with fentanyl 2.0 mcg/mL). The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between bolus volume and concentration of local anesthetic during maintenance of labor analgesia with programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) analgesia. The hypothesis of this study is: patients whose labor analgesia is maintained using PIEB with low-volume bolus (6.25 mL) of higher local anesthetic concentration solution (0.1% bupivacaine with fentanyl 2.0 mcg/mL) will have a longer duration of adequate analgesia (time to first manual re-dose request) than patients whose PIEB is delivered with a high-volume bolus (10 mL) of lower concentration local anesthetic solution (0.0625% bupivacaine with fentanyl 2.0 mcg/mL).
Administration of anesthetic solution into the epidural space is usually accomplished by a combination of continuous infusion, provider-administered boluses and patient-administered boluses (patient controlled epidural analgesia \[PCEA\]). The optimal method for maintaining labor analgesia is unknown. Several studies have demonstrated that timed-intermittent boluses, in combination with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), provide superior maintenance of labor analgesia than maintenance with a continuous infusion with PCEA. Epidural infusion pumps capable of delivering timed boluses of local anesthetic with PCEA recently became commercially available. Several infusion rates are available for delivering the timed bolus, and the optimal bolus rate is unknown.
The primary objective of this study is to compare the onset and duration of the initial dose of medications given through three different epidural (conventional epidural, combined spinal epidural and dural puncture epidural) techniques for labor pain relief. The secondary objective of this study is to compare the fetal effects of these three epidural labor analgesia techniques.
The purpose of this study to compare the use of spinal-epidural versus traditional labor epidural on maternal and fetal effects. The hope is to determine the safest and most effective epidural method of relieving pain during labor.
In this pilot prospective longitudinal observational study, women who are pregnant and who will be experiencing childbirth for the first time will be recruited at the third trimester and observed longitudinally for psychiatric and pain characteristics until 3 months postpartum. The primary outcome is postpartum depression, assessed by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Infants will also be observed for infant development characteristics over time. Women who choose to receive labor epidural analgesia will be observed, as well as women who choose to avoid labor epidural analgesia. At baseline, women will complete baseline surveys as well as a baseline pain sensitivity test (quantitative sensory testing, QST). During labor, they will complete an electronic pain diary delivered by a bedside mobile device. Three postpartum assessments will occur over 3 months to assess maternal depression, other psychosocial variables, and infant development.