Cohen 2006.

Methods	Parturients who requested epidural analgesia were randomised.
Participants	Inclusions: 136 parturients who requested epidural analgesia for labour pain. Exclusions: none stated. No. lost to follow‐up: 5 CSE women were removed from the study following failure to pierce the dura ‐ and presumably were replaced to leave 68 in both groups. The data from the successful women were included.
Interventions	Epidural: 68 women received 20 mL ropivacaine 0.04% (8 mg) with adrenaline and sufentanil 1 µg/mL (20 µg) followed by PCEA using same solution with 4 mL bolus and 10 minute lockout plus background infusion of 4 mL/hr. CSE: 68 women received ropivacaine 2 mg with sufentanil 5 µg intrathecally followed by PCEA as above. Both groups received rescue of 0.25% ropivacaine from 20 minutes if VAS > 3.
Outcomes	Maternal: time from first injection to maximal analgesia; the number who mobilised; the occurrence of hypotension and pruritus and the need for bladder catheterisation. Fetal bradycardia during the fist 30 minutes after block was also noted (this is not an outcome for this review). Neonatal: Apgar scores (actual scores not available).
Notes	USA. Abstracts only: 2004, 2004 and 2006.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Parturients "were randomized".
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not stated.
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not stated.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Data for the women who completed the study were available.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	The primary and secondary outcomes were reported.
Other bias	Low risk	No other bias evident.