PURPOSE: A pilot study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of two regimens of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with remifentanil for labour analgesia. METHODS:Twenty term parturients requesting labour analgesia were randomized to receive one of two regimens of intravenous remifentanil. The initial settings in both groups consisted of an infusion of 0.025 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1), a PCA bolus of 0.25 microg x kg(-1) and a lockout interval of two minutes. In Group A, the infusion was increased in a stepwise manner from 0.025 to 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) as required; the bolus was kept constant at 0.25 microg x kg(-1). In Group B, the bolus was increased from 0.25 to 0.5, 0.75 and 1 microg x kg(-1) as necessary; the infusion was kept constant at 0.025 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). Maternal pain, satisfaction and sedation scores, remifentanil requirement, and side effects were recorded. RESULTS:Mean pain and patient satisfaction scores, and cumulative doses of remifentanil were similar in the two groups. The overall incidence of side effects was greater in Group B (P = 0.0007), with drowsiness observed in 100% of patients, as compared to 30% in Group A (P = 0.003). The minimum oxygen saturation levels were 94.3% +/- 2.6% and 92.2% +/- 3.8% in Groups A and B respectively (P = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS: Although pain and satisfaction scores were similar in both groups, the regimen used in Group A was associated with fewer side effects compared to the Group B dosing regimen. This pilot study suggests that remifentanil intravenous PCA is efficacious for labour analgesia as a bolus of 0.25 microg x kg(-1), with a lockout interval of two minutes and continuous infusion of 0.025-0.1 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). The potential for respiratory depression mandates close respiratory monitoring. Large-scale trials to evaluate safety issues are warranted.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: A pilot study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of two regimens of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with remifentanil for labour analgesia. METHODS: Twenty term parturients requesting labour analgesia were randomized to receive one of two regimens of intravenous remifentanil. The initial settings in both groups consisted of an infusion of 0.025 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1), a PCA bolus of 0.25 microg x kg(-1) and a lockout interval of two minutes. In Group A, the infusion was increased in a stepwise manner from 0.025 to 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) as required; the bolus was kept constant at 0.25 microg x kg(-1). In Group B, the bolus was increased from 0.25 to 0.5, 0.75 and 1 microg x kg(-1) as necessary; the infusion was kept constant at 0.025 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). Maternal pain, satisfaction and sedation scores, remifentanil requirement, and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: Mean pain and patient satisfaction scores, and cumulative doses of remifentanil were similar in the two groups. The overall incidence of side effects was greater in Group B (P = 0.0007), with drowsiness observed in 100% of patients, as compared to 30% in Group A (P = 0.003). The minimum oxygen saturation levels were 94.3% +/- 2.6% and 92.2% +/- 3.8% in Groups A and B respectively (P = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS: Although pain and satisfaction scores were similar in both groups, the regimen used in Group A was associated with fewer side effects compared to the Group B dosing regimen. This pilot study suggests that remifentanil intravenous PCA is efficacious for labour analgesia as a bolus of 0.25 microg x kg(-1), with a lockout interval of two minutes and continuous infusion of 0.025-0.1 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1). The potential for respiratory depression mandates close respiratory monitoring. Large-scale trials to evaluate safety issues are warranted.
Authors: Liv M Freeman; Kitty W M Bloemenkamp; Maureen T M Franssen; Dimitri N M Papatsonis; Petra J Hajenius; Marloes E van Huizen; Henk A Bremer; Eline S A van den Akker; Mallory D Woiski; Martina M Porath; Erik van Beek; Nico Schuitemaker; Paulien C M van der Salm; Bianca F Fong; Celine Radder; Caroline J Bax; Marko Sikkema; M Elske van den Akker-van Marle; Jan M M van Lith; Enrico Lopriore; Renske J Uildriks; Michel M R F Struys; Ben Willem J Mol; Albert Dahan; Johanna M Middeldorp Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2012-07-02 Impact factor: 3.007