Analgesia in labor: Evaluating clinical trial comparing between Entonox versus parenteral pethidine during the first stage of labor

Abstract

Introduction: An adequate analgesia during labor is important to minimize the deleterious effects of sever labor pain on maternal and fetal condition and also on the progress of labor.

Aims: To compare the clinical effectiveness of inhalational analgesia by using Entonox versus systemic analgesia by using I.V pethidine for pain relief in the first stage of labor.

Patients and methods: 48 multiparous women were selected in the first stage of labor, were randomly allocated into 2 groups, group A had received I.V pethidine and group B had received Entonox. Total pain score measurement was done by using the parameters of Mc Gill pain questionnaire which include pain rating index (PRI) and present pain intensity (PPI).

Results: A comparison between group A&B done, the difference in PPI between pethidine & Entonox was showing a statistical significance P<0.001. The difference in PRI between pethidine &Entonox was carrying no statistical significance.

Conclusions: Inhalational analgesia by using Entonox in a proper intermittent technique is more effective than systemic analgesia by using parenteral pethidine for reducing present pain intensity in the 1st stage of labor.