Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus Regimen Versus Continuous Epidural Infusion: A Retrospective Study of Motor Block and Obstetric Outcomes Using the Robson’s Ten Group Classification System

( Int J Obstet Anesth . 2024;59:104215. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2024.104215) Epidural analgesia has the potential to cause motor block as well as sensory block during labor and delivery, which can be distressing for patients. One solution for this is a programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) regimen combined with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) in preference to continuous epidural infusion (CEI). Though this is postulated to be a solution, evidence to support lower incidence of motor block with PIEB regimens is lacking. This study was designed to determine whether the introduction of a PIEB regimen was associated with a reduced incidence of motor block and secondarily to assess changes in motor block and other obstetric outcomes, hypothesizing that PIEB would reduce motor block incidence and changes would vary.