Editing Epidural administration (section)

=== Use and removal ===
If a short duration of action is desired, a single dose of medication called a [[Bolus (medicine)|bolus]] may be administered. Thereafter, this bolus may be repeated if necessary provided the catheter remains undisturbed. For a prolonged effect, a continuous infusion of medication may be used. There is some evidence that an automated intermittent bolus technique may provide better pain control than a continuous infusion technique even when the total doses administered are identical.<ref name="Lim2005">{{cite journal |vauthors=Lim Y, Sia AT, Ocampo C | title = Automated regular boluses for epidural analgesia: a comparison with continuous infusion | journal = Int J Obstet Anesth | volume = 14 | issue = 4 | pages = 305–9 | year = 2005 | pmid = 16154735 | doi = 10.1016/j.ijoa.2005.05.004 }}</ref><ref name="Wong2006">{{cite journal |vauthors=Wong CA, Ratliff JT, Sullivan JT, Scavone BM, Toledo P, McCarthy RJ | title = A randomized comparison of programmed intermittent epidural bolus with continuous epidural infusion for labor analgesia | journal = Anesthesia & Analgesia| volume = 102 | issue = 3 | pages = 904–9 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16492849 | doi = 10.1213/01.ane.0000197778.57615.1a | s2cid = 36635329 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Sia2007">{{cite journal |vauthors=Sia AT, Lim Y, Ocampo C | title = A comparison of a basal infusion with automated mandatory boluses in parturient-controlled epidural analgesia during labor | journal =  Anesthesia & Analgesia| volume = 104 | issue = 3 | pages = 673–8 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17312228 | doi = 10.1213/01.ane.0000253236.89376.60 | s2cid = 38626333 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Typically, the effects of the epidural block are noted below a specific [[Dermatome (anatomy)|level or portion of the body]], determined by the site of injection. A higher injection may result in sparing of nerve function in the lower [[spinal nerve]]s. For example, a thoracic epidural performed for upper abdominal surgery may not have any effect on the [[perineum|area surrounding the genitals]] or pelvic organs.<ref name="Basse2000">{{cite journal |vauthors=Basse L, Werner M, Kehlet H | title = Is urinary drainage necessary during continuous epidural analgesia after colonic resection? | journal = Reg Anesth Pain Med | volume = 25 | issue = 5 | pages = 498–501 | year = 2000 | pmid = 11009235 | doi = 10.1053/rapm.2000.9537 | s2cid = 21296374 }}</ref>