British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2001, Vol. 87, No. 3 415-420
© 2001 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
Clinical Investigations |
Patient-controlled analgesia for labour using remifentanil: a feasibility study
1Department of Anaesthetics, The Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, Belfast BT16 0RH, UK. 2Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, The Queens University of Belfast, Belfast, UK*Corresponding author
We have investigated the efficacy and safety of remifentanil in a patient-controlled analgesia device for labour in 21 women. Remifentanil was available in increasing doses (bolus doses 0.251.0 µg kg1) with and without a background infusion (0.0250.05 µg kg1 min1). A lockout time of 2 min was used. Thirteen out of 21 (62%) women chose to continue using remifentanil up to and during delivery. Nineteen out of 21 (90%) achieved a reduction in pain score from baseline. Using a VAS of 010 cm the median maximum reduction in pain score was 3 cm (range 08 cm). There was a significant reduction (P<0.05) from baseline pain scores (median= 8 cm) to scores at bolus doses in the range 0.250.5 µg kg1 (median=5 cm). There were no significant reductions in the fetal heart rate. Apgar scores and cord blood gas analyses remained within normal limits. We conclude that a remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia system (bolus doses 0.250.5 µg kg1, without a background infusion) may safely provide worthwhile, although incomplete, analgesia for labour.
Br J Anaesth 2001; 87: 41520
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