Real-time Ultrasound Guided Labor Epidural Placement

Real-time Ultrasound Guided Labor Epidural Placement

Specific Aim: The purpose of this study is to determine if labor epidural placement using real-time (concurrent) ultrasound guided placement is superior to the conventional "standard" epidural technique without the use of ultrasound at Magee-Womens Hospital.

Hypothesis: Ultrasound guided labor epidural placement in real-time will decrease the traditional epidural failure rate from 5% to 1%.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All pregnant women of childbearing age (including children aged 14 years and above) who request epidural analgesia at Magee-Womens Hospital will be eligible to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Men will not be included.