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Dural Puncture Epidural (DPE) Technique for Labor Pain

This study is looking at the Dural Puncture Epidural (DPE) technique, a way to provide pain relief during labor. It's a modification of a common epidural where a small needle intentionally punctures the dura (a protective membrane around the spinal cord) to confirm correct placement by seeing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, but no medicine is injected into that space. Researchers want to see how often this technique is successful in confirming placement. You may be able to join if you are a woman, 18 or older, pregnant with one baby at term (37-42 weeks), and planning to have an epidural for labor pain. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and aims to enroll 150 participants.

Study design
This is an observational study at one medical center, meaning researchers will watch and record what happens during routine care for 150 participants. It is not a randomized trial.
What's involved
You would receive the Dural Puncture Epidural (DPE) technique as part of your routine clinical care for labor pain.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary outcome, success of the DPE technique, is measured during the epidural placement procedure.

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NCT07704554

Dural Puncture Epidural (DPE) Technique: Efficacy and Safety Overview.

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18+Observational
Ohio State University
~150 participants
Updated 2026-07-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Dural Puncture Epidural (DPE) Technique

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Success rate of dural puncture epidural (DPE) technique (CSF backflow)
Measured over During epidural placement procedure (at time of dural puncture)

Conditions

Labor Pain

Explore related trials

Labor Pain

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Ohio1

Who to contact

Goran Ristev
[email protected]
6142938487
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

o Women with a single vertex presentation fetus at term (37-42 weeks) with intact fetal membranes or membrane rupture \<6 hours previously, who request to have an epidural for labor analgesia and provide written consent for the study.

Exclusion

o Patients being treated/managed for chronic pain.
Allergies or significant adverse reactions to local anesthetic or opioid medications
Contraindication to labor epidural placement
Patients with history of spine abnormalities or spine surgery.
Prisoners
Clinical signs or symptoms of infection.
Non-English speakers.

What this trial measures

  • Success rate of dural puncture epidural (DPE) technique (CSF backflow)During epidural placement procedure (at time of dural puncture)

    To determine the proportion of parturient patients in whom successful dural puncture epidural (DPE) is achieved, defined as the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) backflow following intentional dural puncture using a spinal needle during epidural placement.