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Optimal Bupivacaine Dose for Initiation of Labor Epidural Techniques

A Trial to Determine the Optimal Bupivacaine Dose for Initiation of Labor Epidural Pain Relief

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04814537
Enrollment
100
Registered
2021-03-24
Start date
2021-02-25
Completion date
2022-03-23
Last updated
2026-08-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Analgesia, Labor Pain

Keywords

Dural Puncture Epidural Technique, Epidural Technique, Neuraxial Labor Analgesia, Bupivacaine, Local Anesthetic Agent

Brief summary

To estimate the dose of bupivacaine required to achieve initial effective comfort in 90% of patients (ED90) via the epidural (DPE or EPL) technique in women undergoing labor.

Detailed description

The primary objective of our study is to use a biased coin up-down allocation methodology to estimate the dose of bupivacaine required to achieve initial effective comfort in 90% of patients (ED90) via the epidural (DPE or EPL) technique in women undergoing labor induction or augmentation; we hypothesize that we will be able to determine the ED90 of bupivacaine for each technique with adequate precision to inform the optimal doses.

Interventions

DRUGBupivacaine Hydrochloride

Local Anesthetic Agent

Sponsors

Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

The biased-coin allocation after each successful response will be implemented by flipping a virtual biased coin (10% vs. 90% probability of randomizing the next patient to the lower vs. same dose than received by the last patient with the same epidural technique) using R statistical software (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). Care Provider (Clinical Anesthesiologist) will administer the identified dose, then summon blinded observer.

Intervention model description

Randomized Controlled Trial Using Biased Coin Design to Determine Effective Dose for 90% (ED90) of Subjects

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Parturient with no major co-morbidities 2. Singleton, vertex gestation at term (37-42 weeks) 3. Less than or equal to 5 cm dilation 4. Desire to receive epidural labor analgesia 5. Numerical Rating Scale greater or equal to 5 (NRS 0-10, where 0 = no pain, and 10 = worst pain imaginable), at time of epidural labor analgesia request.

Exclusion criteria

1. Current or historical evidence of clinically significant disease or condition, including diseases of pregnancy (i.e preeclampsia, gestational diabetes) 2. Any contraindication to the administration of an epidural technique 3. History of hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reaction to an amide local anesthetic agent 4. Current or historical evidence of a disease which may result in the risk of a cesarean delivery (i.e. history of uterine rupture). NB: Exception-trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC) will be eligible. 5. Evidence of anticipated fetal anomalies

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
ED9030 minutesThe dose of bupivacaine with which 90% of participants achieve adequate analgesia (NRS\<3 at 30min)

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORLawrence Tsen, MD

Associate Professor in Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
100 Participants
Age, Continuous32.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.5
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
7 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
79 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
50 participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Female
50 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 500 / 50
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 500 / 50
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 500 / 50

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 5, 2026