REPEAT EPIDURAL ANALGESIA AND UNILATERAL BLOCK

The use of epidural analgesia has become so widespread in recent years that many women are now requesting repeat epidural analgesia for thei r second or subsequent labour. This study examines the incidence of pr oblems at insertion and of inadequate block in 71 multiparae having se cond epidurals compared with 150 primiparae having their first epidura l. Unilateral bloc occurred in 6.66% of primiparae and 18.3% of multip arae (P < 0.02). There was no association between difficulty of insert ion of catheter, blood in needle/catheter or paraesthesia and unilater al blockade. Epidurals were inserted at a greater dilatation (P < 0.05 ) and there was a shorter time to delivery (P < 0.01) in the multiparo us group. We conclude that unilateral block is thus more common in wom en receiving repeat epidurals.