Combo Treatment Might Beat Epidural to Ease Labor: Study

"The bottom line is that both epidural and [the combination] techniques may be used to provide profound pain relief during labor," said Gilbert, who is also associate professor in the department of anesthesiology at NYU Langone. "Ultimately, each practitioner administers the type of analgesia that s/he considers to be best for their patient."

Another expert said the combination approach might have an edge in many cases.

"Combined spinal epidural anesthesia offers significantly better and faster relief for patients in labor, [and] there was no increase in side effects or cesarean sections, either," said Dr. Jennifer Wu, ob/gyn at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "For patients who desire pain relief in labor, this is good information."

SOURCES: Grant Gilbert, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist, NYU Langone Medical Center, and associate professor, department of anesthesiology, division of obstetrics, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City; Jennifer Wu, M.D., obstetrician/gynecologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Anesthesia & Analgesia, news release, Feb. 27, 2013

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Published: March 2013