B A Loughnan1, F Carli, M Romney, C J Doré, H Gordon. 1. Departments of Anaesthesia and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Concern has been expressed that epidural analgesia for labour may be associated with a higher incidence of backache. METHODS: A prospective randomized trial investigating the effect of epidural analgesia on the outcome of labour in nulliparae, mothers were randomized to receive either epidural analgesia or meperidine. A questionnaire on postnatal symptoms was sent to them 6 months after delivery. RESULTS: In all, 611 mothers were studied; 310 were randomly allocated to receive i.m. meperidine up to 300 mg and 301 to receive epidural bupivacaine. The response rate to our questionnaire was 83%. Intention-to-treat analysis showed similar prevalence rates of postpartum backache in the epidural (48%) and meperidine groups (50%), with an observed difference (epidural-meperidine) of -2% (95% CI, -11 to +6%). After excluding mothers with backache before delivery, there were also similar incidence rates of postpartum backache in the epidural (29%) and meperidine groups (28%), observed difference 1% (95% CI, -8 to +10%). CONCLUSIONS:Epidural analgesia in labour was not associated with an increase in the prevalence or incidence of backache.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Concern has been expressed that epidural analgesia for labour may be associated with a higher incidence of backache. METHODS: A prospective randomized trial investigating the effect of epidural analgesia on the outcome of labour in nulliparae, mothers were randomized to receive either epidural analgesia or meperidine. A questionnaire on postnatal symptoms was sent to them 6 months after delivery. RESULTS: In all, 611 mothers were studied; 310 were randomly allocated to receive i.m. meperidine up to 300 mg and 301 to receive epidural bupivacaine. The response rate to our questionnaire was 83%. Intention-to-treat analysis showed similar prevalence rates of postpartum backache in the epidural (48%) and meperidine groups (50%), with an observed difference (epidural-meperidine) of -2% (95% CI, -11 to +6%). After excluding mothers with backache before delivery, there were also similar incidence rates of postpartum backache in the epidural (29%) and meperidine groups (28%), observed difference 1% (95% CI, -8 to +10%). CONCLUSIONS: Epidural analgesia in labour was not associated with an increase in the prevalence or incidence of backache.
Authors: Ivan Urits; Viet Cai; Musa Aner; Thomas Simopoulos; Vwaire Orhurhu; Jyotsna Nagda; Omar Viswanath; Alan D Kaye; Philip E Hess; Jatinder Gill Journal: Curr Pain Headache Rep Date: 2020-01-08
Authors: Erica J Weinstein; Jacob L Levene; Marc S Cohen; Doerthe A Andreae; Jerry Y Chao; Matthew Johnson; Charles B Hall; Michael H Andreae Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-06-20
Authors: Erica J Weinstein; Jacob L Levene; Marc S Cohen; Doerthe A Andreae; Jerry Y Chao; Matthew Johnson; Charles B Hall; Michael H Andreae Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2018-04-25