Epidural vs. Dural Puncture Epidural in Labor Analgesia

Administration of conventional epidural analgesia using an 18G Tuohy needle for catheter placement and subsequent administration of a standardized dose of bupivacaine with fentanyl.

Administration of epidural analgesia that incorporates a dural puncture with a 27G spinal needle prior to epidural catheter placement, followed by the same standardized dose of bupivacaine with fentanyl.