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Abstract
Nitrous oxide, long used during labor in Europe, is gaining popularity in the United States. It offers many beneficial attributes, with few drawbacks. Cost, safety, and side effect profiles are favorable. Analgesic effectiveness is highly variable, yet maternal satisfaction is often high among the women who choose to use it. Despite being less effective in treating labor pain than neuraxial analgesic modalities, nitrous oxide serves the needs and preferences of a subset of laboring parturients. Nitrous oxide should, therefore, be considered for inclusion in the repertoire of modalities used to alleviate pain and facilitate effective coping during labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Richardson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 4202 VUH, 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
| | - Brandon M Lopez
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Curtis L Baysinger
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 4202 VUH, 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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Mobaraki N, Yousefian M, Seifi S, Sakaki M. A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Use of Enthonox With Pethidine for Pain Relief in Primigravid Women During the Active Phase of Labor. Anesth Pain Med 2016; 6:e37420. [PMID: 27843776 PMCID: PMC5100341 DOI: 10.5812/aapm.37420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Revised: 06/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The use of pain-relieving drugs during labor is now part of standard care in many countries throughout the world. Each method of pain relief has its own risks and benefits, variations in effectiveness, and availability and acceptability. Objectives This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of intramuscular pethidine as an analgesic during labor by comparing it to inhaled 50% nitrous oxide (Entonox). Methods In this clinical trial study, 100 women who expected to have a natural childbirth were observed. The inclusion criteria for this study were the commencement of spontaneous labor pain along with appropriate maternal and fetal indications for vaginal delivery. By using random numbers, each subject was randomly allocated to one of two groups, with one group using Entonox and the other receiving an intramuscular injection of 0.5 mg/kg of pethidine for pain relief. The intensity of labor pain experienced by the subjects and the outcomes of the deliveries were collected with questionnaires. Results The average pain scores in the Entonox and pethidine groups were 3.94 ± 1.4 and 5.6 ± 1.1, respectively, 30 minutes after intervention (P = 0.001), but there was not a significant difference in the severity of the pain (5.06 ± 1.4 and 4.7 ± 1.1 for the Entonox and pethidine groups, respectively) between the subjects in each group 60 minutes after the intervention (P = 0.592). No significant differences were seen in the duration and interval of uterine contractions, maternal complications, Apgar scores, and the duration of the first and second stage of labor between the two studied groups (P > 0.05). An analysis of the pooled risk differences showed that none of the side effects investigated were significantly different between the two groups except for mouth dryness, which was significantly higher in nitrous oxide users (P = 0.044). Conclusions Inhaled nitrous oxide seems to give better pain relief in the short term compared to a single dose of pethidine. Entonox, which is more convenient to administer than an intramuscular injection of pethidine, is also regarded as safe both for mothers and neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noshin Mobaraki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Mahzad Yousefian
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
- Corresponding author: Mahzad Yousefian, Department of Anesthesiology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran, E-mail:
| | - Solmaz Seifi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Mehran Sakaki
- Department of Pathology, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
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Likis FE, Andrews JC, Collins MR, Lewis RM, Seroogy JJ, Starr SA, Walden RR, McPheeters ML. Nitrous oxide for the management of labor pain: a systematic review. Anesth Analg 2014; 118:153-67. [PMID: 24356165 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0b013e3182a7f73c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We systematically reviewed evidence addressing the effectiveness of nitrous oxide for the management of labor pain, the influence of nitrous oxide on women's satisfaction with their birth experience and labor pain management, and adverse effects associated with nitrous oxide for labor pain management. METHODS We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases for articles published in English. The study population included pregnant women in labor intending a vaginal birth, birth attendees or health care providers who may be exposed to nitrous oxide during labor, and the fetus/neonate. RESULTS We identified a total of 58 publications, representing 59 distinct study populations: 2 studies were of good quality, 11 fair, and 46 poor. Inhalation of nitrous oxide provided less effective pain relief than epidural analgesia, but the quality of studies was predominately poor. The heterogeneous outcomes used to assess women's satisfaction with their birth experience and labor pain management made synthesis of studies difficult. Most maternal adverse effects reported in the literature were unpleasant side effects that affect tolerability, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and drowsiness. Apgar scores in newborns whose mothers used nitrous oxide were not significantly different from those of newborns whose mothers used other labor pain management methods or no analgesia. Evidence about occupational harms and exposure was limited. CONCLUSIONS The literature addressing nitrous oxide for the management of labor pain includes few studies of good or fair quality. Further research is needed across all of the areas examined: effectiveness, satisfaction, and adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances E Likis
- From the *Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center, Institute for Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; †Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; ‡Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; §Vanderbilt University School of Nursing; ‖Division of Obstetric Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; ¶Eskind Biomedical Library, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
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Ducassé JL, Siksik G, Durand-Béchu M, Couarraze S, Vallé B, Lecoules N, Marco P, Lacombe T, Bounes V. Nitrous oxide for early analgesia in the emergency setting: a randomized, double-blind multicenter prehospital trial. Acad Emerg Med 2013; 20:178-84. [PMID: 23406077 DOI: 10.1111/acem.12072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Revised: 08/08/2012] [Accepted: 09/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although 50% nitrous oxide (N(2) O) and oxygen is a widely used treatment, its efficacy had never been evaluated in the prehospital setting. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of premixed N(2) O and oxygen in patients with out-of-hospital moderate traumatic acute pain. METHODS This prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-blind trial enrolled patients with acute moderate pain (numeric rating scale [NRS] score between 4 and 6 out of 10) caused by trauma. Patients were assigned to receive either 50/50 N(2) O and oxygen 9 L/min (N(2) O group) or medical air (MA) 9 L/min (MA group), in ambulances from two nurse-staffed fire department centers. After the first 15 minutes, every patient received N(2) O and oxygen. The primary endpoint was pain relief at 15 minutes (T15), defined as a NRS ≤ 3 of 10. The NRS was measured every 5 minutes. Secondary endpoints were treatment safety and adverse events, time to analgesia, and patient and investigator satisfaction with analgesia. RESULTS Sixty patients were included with no differences between groups in age (median = 34 years, interquartile range [IQR] = 23 to 53 years), sex (37 males, 66%), and initial median NRS of 6 (IQR = 5 to 6). At T15, 67% of the patients in the N(2) O group had an NRS score of 3 or lower versus 27% of those in the MA group (delta = 40%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 17% to 63%; p < 0.001). The median pain scores were lower in the N(2) O group at T15, 2 (IQR = 1 to 4) versus 5 (IQR = 3 to 6). There was a difference at 5 minutes that persisted at all subsequent time points. Four patients (one in the N(2) O group) experienced adverse events (nausea) during the protocol. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the efficacy of N(2) O for the treatment of pain from acute trauma in adults in the prehospital setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Louis Ducassé
- Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente de la Haute Garonne (SAMU 31); Hôpital Universitaire de Purpan; Toulouse; France
| | - Georges Siksik
- The Service de Santé et de Secours Médical (SSSM) and the Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de la Haute Garonne (SDIS 31); Colomiers; France
| | - Manon Durand-Béchu
- Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente de la Haute Garonne (SAMU 31); Hôpital Universitaire de Purpan; Toulouse; France
| | - Sébastien Couarraze
- The Service de Santé et de Secours Médical (SSSM) and the Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de la Haute Garonne (SDIS 31); Colomiers; France
| | - Baptiste Vallé
- Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente de la Haute Garonne (SAMU 31); Hôpital Universitaire de Purpan; Toulouse; France
| | - Nathalie Lecoules
- The Service d'Accueil des Urgences; Hôpital Universitaire de Purpan; Toulouse; France
| | - Patrice Marco
- The Service de Santé et de Secours Médical (SSSM) and the Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de la Haute Garonne (SDIS 31); Colomiers; France
| | - Thierry Lacombe
- The Service de Santé et de Secours Médical (SSSM) and the Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de la Haute Garonne (SDIS 31); Colomiers; France
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Klomp T, van Poppel M, Jones L, Lazet J, Di Nisio M, Lagro-Janssen ALM. Inhaled analgesia for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012:CD009351. [PMID: 22972140 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd009351.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many women would like to have a choice in pain relief during labour and also would like to avoid invasive methods of pain management in labour. Inhaled analgesia during labour involves the self-administered inhalation of sub-anaesthetic concentrations of agents while the mother remains awake and her protective laryngeal reflexes remain intact. Most of the agents are easy to administer, can be started in less than a minute and become effective within a minute. OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of all modalities of inhaled analgesia on the mother and the newborn for mothers who planned to have a vaginal delivery. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 January 2012), ClinicalTrials.gov, and Current Controlled Trials (2 June 2012), handsearched conference proceedings from the American Society of Clinical Anesthesia (from 1990 to 2011), contacted content experts and trialists and searched reference lists of retrieved studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials comparing inhaled analgesia with other inhaled analgesia or placebo or no treatment or other methods of non-pharmacological pain management in labour. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Review authors independently assessed trials for eligibility, methodological quality and extracted all data. Data were double checked for accuracy. MAIN RESULTS Twenty-six studies, randomising 2959 women, were included in this review.Inhaled analgesia versus a different type of inhaled analgesia Pain relief was measured using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) from 0 to 100 mm where 100 corresponds to the most relief. Pain intensity was measured using a VAS from 0 to 100 mm, where 0 corresponds to no pain at all and 100 corresponds to the worst pain. The highest score for pain relief is the most positive in contrast to 'pain intensity' in which the higher score is more negative. Flurane derivatives were found to offer better pain relief than nitrous oxide in first stage of labour as measured by a lower pain intensity score (average mean difference (MD) 14.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.41 to 24.37, three studies, 70 women), also a higher pain relief score for flurane derivatives compared with nitrous oxide (average MD -16.32, 95% CI -26.85 to -5.79, two studies, 70 women). Substantial heterogeneity was found in the analyses of pain intensity (P = 0.003) and in the analysis of pain relief (P = 0.002).These findings should be considered with caution because of the questionable design of the included cross-over trials. More nausea was found in the nitrous oxide group compared with the flurane derivatives group (risk ratio (RR) 6.60 95% CI 1.85 to 23.52, two studies, 98 women).Inhaled analgesia versus placebo or no treatment Placebo or no treatment was found to offer less pain relief compared to nitrous oxide (average RR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.34, two studies, 310 women; MD -3.50, 95% CI -3.75 to -3.25, one study, 509 women). However, nitrous oxide resulted in more side effects for women such as nausea (RR 43.10, 95% CI 2.63 to 706.74, one study, 509 women), vomiting (RR 9.05, 95% CI 1.18 to 69.32, two studies, 619 women), dizziness (RR 113.98, 95% CI 7.09 to 1833.69, one study, 509 women) and drowsiness (RR 77.59, 95% CI 4.80 to 1254.96, one study, 509 women) when compared with placebo or no treatment.There were no significant differences found for any of the outcomes in the studies comparing one strength versus a different strength of inhaled analgesia, in studies comparing different delivery systems or in the study comparing inhaled analgesia with TENS.Due to lack of data, the following outcomes were not analysed within the review: sense of control; satisfaction with childbirth experience; effect on mother/baby interaction; breastfeeding; admission to special care baby unit; poor infant outcomes at long-term follow-up; or costs. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Inhaled analgesia appears to be effective in reducing pain intensity and in giving pain relief in labour. However, substantial heterogeneity was detected for pain intensity. Furthermore, nitrous oxide appears to result in more side effects compared with flurane derivatives. Flurane derivatives result in more drowsiness when compared with nitrous oxide. When inhaled analgesia is compared with no treatment or placebo, nitrous oxide appears to result in even more side effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness and drowsiness. There is no evidence for differences for any of the outcomes comparing one strength verus a different strength of inhaled analgesia, comparing different delivery systems or comparing inhaled analgesia with TENS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trudy Klomp
- Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center,Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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Collado V, Nicolas E, Faulks D, Hennequin M. A review of the safety of 50% nitrous oxide/oxygen in conscious sedation. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2007; 6:559-71. [PMID: 17877443 DOI: 10.1517/14740338.6.5.559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Few studies into conscious sedation with 50% nitrous oxide/oxygen premix (50% N2O/O2) have been conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice in Clinical Trials. Of the 140 articles retained in this review, the incidence of adverse events (AEs) varied in the range of 0-68% according to the indications. When other drugs and/or local anaesthesia were used concomitantly, the relative risk for nausea and vomiting increased whereas it decreased for vertigo or hallucinations. Only one study examined potential causal relationship between serious AEs and the 50% N2O/O2 gas itself, giving a risk for a serious AE directly due to the gas of 3/10,000 administrations. No analysis of the effect of the method of administration was possible, nor could conclusions be drawn relating to the risk of occupational exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Collado
- Univ Clermont1, EA 3847, Faculté d'Odontologie, 11 bvd Charles de Gaulle, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
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Faddy SC, Garlick SR. A systematic review of the safety of analgesia with 50% nitrous oxide: can lay responders use analgesic gases in the prehospital setting? Emerg Med J 2006; 22:901-8. [PMID: 16299211 PMCID: PMC1726638 DOI: 10.1136/emj.2004.020891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
A safe and effective form of pain relief would be an advantage in the prehospital treatment of patients experiencing extreme pain. Although used by many emergency medical services, 50% nitrous oxide (an inhaled analgesic known to have good pain relief properties) is not widely used by volunteer and semiprofessional organisations. This review aimed to determine whether 50% nitrous oxide is safe for use by first responders who are not trained as emergency medical technicians. A thorough search of the literature identified 12 randomised controlled trials investigating the use of 50% nitrous oxide (as compared with placebo or conventional analgesic regimens) in a range of conditions. The outcomes analysed for this review were: adverse events, recovery time, and need for additional medication. None of the studies compared the treatments in the prehospital setting; children were well represented. Adverse effects were rare and significant adverse outcomes such as hypotension and oxygen desaturation could not be attributed to nitrous oxide. Compared with patients receiving conventional analgesia, those receiving 50% nitrous oxide did not require additional medication any more frequently and had a faster recovery from sedative effects. The low incidence of significant adverse events from 50% nitrous oxide suggests that this agent could be used safely by lay responders.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Faddy
- Department of Cardiology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
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Volmanen P, Akural E, Raudaskoski T, Ohtonen P, Alahuhta S. Comparison of remifentanil and nitrous oxide in labour analgesia. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2005; 49:453-8. [PMID: 15777291 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2005.00639.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We compared the efficacy and side-effects of remifentanil with those of nitrous oxide during the first stage of labour. METHODS Twenty parturients participated in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study. Intravenous remifentanil in 0.4 microg kg(-1) PCA doses with 1-min infusion and lock-out times and intermittent inhaled 50% nitrous oxide were compared during 20-min study periods with a 20-min wash-out sequence after each period. The parturients assessed the intensity of contraction pain (verbal numerical score 0-10), pain relief (score 0-4) and side-effects every 10 min. Noninvasive blood pressure, heart rate (HR), oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SaO2), end-tidal carbon dioxide, fractions of inhaled and exhaled oxygen and nitrous oxide and foetal heart rate (FHR) were recorded. Hypoxaemia and bradycardia were defined as SaO2<90% and HR<50, respectively. RESULTS Fifteen parturients completed the study. There was no period effect or treatment-period interaction. The median decrease in pain score for remifentanil was 1.5 and that for nitrous oxide 0.5 (P=0.01). The parturients gave better pain relief scores with remifentanil than with nitrous oxide (median 2.5 vs. 0.5, respectively, P<0.001). Sedation was reported more often, and SaO2 was slightly lower during remifentanil administration. No episodes of hypoxaemia occurred. There was no difference in maternal blood pressure and HR or the incidence of abnormal FHR during remifentanil compared to nitrous oxide. Most parturients preferred remifentanil to nitrous oxide (14 vs. 1, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that IVPCA remifentanil provides better labour analgesia than intermittently inhaled nitrous oxide.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Volmanen
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Lapland Central Hospital, Rovaniemi, Finland.
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Lucas DN, Siemaszko O, Yentis SM. Maternal hypoxaemia associated with the use of Entonox in labour. Int J Obstet Anesth 2005; 9:270-2. [PMID: 15321078 DOI: 10.1054/ijoa.1999.0383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We report the occurrence of severe hypoxaemic episodes associated with the use of Entonox in labour, in an otherwise healthy woman. These did not occur when the parturient breathed room air during contractions and did not recur when epidural analgesia was established. Possible mechanisms of arterial desaturation associated with the use of Entonox in labour are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- D N Lucas
- Magill Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care & Pain Management, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK
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Anyanwu E. Complex interconvertibility of nitrogen oxides (NOX): impact on occupational and environmental health. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 1999; 14:169-185. [PMID: 10674289 DOI: 10.1515/reveh.1999.14.3.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Oxides of nitrogen have been implicated in a vast number of environmental and occupational health effects, some of which lack concrete mechanisms. Whereas certain compelling pieces of evidence link a particular nitrogen oxide to a particular adverse health effect, other reports seem to implicate virtually all the oxides in one form of toxic process or the other. Such diversity has probably emerged because each oxide of nitrogen possesses a different oxidation state, in which each form exerts different important levels of biological activity. Most important, each nitrogen oxide readily interconverts into another oxide at a very fast rate. This property of rapid interconvertibility poses problems to researchers in identifying with great confidence the actual oxide of nitrogen that is responsible for a specific occupational and environmental health effect. This paper reviews the complex nature of the nitrogen oxides (represented collectively as NOX) to explore the extent to which their acute or chronic exposure could be associated with toxicity. The nomenclature of the nitrogen oxides is outlined as a necessity for clarity and simplicity in understanding their reactions and interconvertibility and how they affect health. The natural occurrence and sources of occupational and environmental exposures and effects are critically evaluated and analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Anyanwu
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (Research), De Montfort University, Scraptoft, Leicester, UK.
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Abstract
All commonly used anesthetic agents and drugs undergo placental transfer. Understanding the placental transfer of anesthetic drugs and their effects on the neonate is essential for optimal administration of both regional and general anesthesia. Regional anesthesia is decidedly safer for the mother and, when properly performed, actually may be beneficial to the stressed neonate. The healthy neonate also benefits from maternal analgesia during labor and delivery. General anesthesia may result in transient neonatal depression, particularly when delivery is of an emergency nature. The skill and knowledge of the anesthesiologist are more important than the type of anesthesia administered. Therefore, when properly performed, both regional and general anesthesia are quite safe in terms of neonatal outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G D'Alessio
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA
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Olofsson C, Irestedt L. Traditional analgesic agents: are parenteral narcotics passé and do inhalational agents still have a place in labour? BAILLIERE'S CLINICAL OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY 1998; 12:409-21. [PMID: 10023429 DOI: 10.1016/s0950-3552(98)80075-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Systemic labour pain treatment with opioids and inhaled nitrous oxide has for many decades frequently been used in medically developed countries. Self-administered nitrous oxide (50% in oxygen) has never gained the same popularity in the USA as in the UK or Scandinavia but the use of opioids, mainly pethidine, has generally been widespread in spite of well-known negative effects on the postnatal adaptation of the newborn. Since the often very intense labour pain seems to respond very poorly even to highly sedating doses of parenteral opioids, their frequent use during delivery and parturition has to be questioned. Self-administered inhalation of nitrous oxide 50% in oxygen also has a limited efficacy for relieving labour pain but because it is mainly devoid of adverse effects on the baby or on the parturient its future use in obstetrics can be defended more easily, either as a sole agent in women with low labour pain scores or in early labour preceding epidural analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Olofsson
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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