| Continuous Spinal Anesthesia/Analgesia |
Epidural Analgesia |
Combined Spinal Epidural Anesthesia |
| Simple and rapid |
Complex; more difficult to ensure proper placement of epidural needle |
Complex, but easier to ensure proper placement of epidural needle than with the epidural analgesia technique |
| Dural puncture is part of the procedure, resulting in greater incidence of headache |
Dural puncture is avoided if possible, resulting in fewer incidence of headache |
Dural puncture is made with a very small needle the shape of a pencil point; however, the combination of the spinal and epidural techniques results in fewer incidence of headache |
| Minimal amount of drug administered; therefore, less drug is absorbed by both the mother and the baby |
Larger quantity of drug is administered, resulting in higher levels of the drug in both the mother and the baby, but still within safe limits |
Minimal amount of drug is administered; therefore, less drug is absorbed by both the mother and the baby |
| Mother remains awake |
Mother remains awake |
Mother remains awake |
| Drop of blood pressure is common, resulting in nausea and vomiting; immediate treatment of drop in blood pressure is necessary |
Drop of blood pressure is uncommon, resulting in few incidence of nausea and vomiting |
Drop of blood pressure is uncommon, resulting in few incidence of nausea and vomiting |
| Quick onset |
Slow onset |
Quick onset |
| Immediate loss of sensory and motor power, which may be uncomfortable for some mothers |
Sensory and motor loss are gradual |
Sensory and motor loss are gradual and uncommon |
