Discussing Approaches, Challenges With Epidural Labor Analgesia

Epidural labor on analgesia can be challenging for anesthesiologist, whether it is managing it or initiating it. 

In an interview during the 2025 annual spring meeting of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Valerie Zaphiratos, MD, an obstetric anesthesiologist and a clinical associate professor at the University of Montreal, explained why it is important to have different perspectives on this topic.

 “Epidural labor on analgesia is never straightforward,” she said. “There’s different ways to manage it, and there’s different ways to initiate it, and there’s different ways to maintain it.” 

During the meeting, Zaphiratos led a problem-based learning session where they discussed troubleshooting failed labor epidural analgesia and how anesthesiologists should address it. Zaphiratos said the discussion featured doctors from multiple countries, leading to unique perspectives on this topic. 

“In general, the practice is similar; it is safe obviously,” she said. But there’s different ways to do things, which I’ve always known, but it is always great to meet other people.”