Berenike Seiler1, Philipp Deindl1, Thierry Somville2, Chinedu Ulrich Ebenebe1, Kurt Hecher2, Dominique Singer1. 1. Sektion Neonatologie und Pädiatrische Intensivmedizin, Zentrum für Geburtshilfe, Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Deutschland. 2. Klinik und Poliklinik für Geburtshilfe und Pränatalmedizin, Zentrum für Geburtshilfe, Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Deutschland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Three-quarters of all women receive analgesia during labor. There are regional and systemic analgesia procedures available. In this review, we investigate the impact of obstetric analgesia using systemic opioids on neonatal outcomes. METHODS: We searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases using the following search terms: "meptazinol", "meptide", "analgesia", "painkiller", "pain reliever", "obstetrics", "labor", "labour", "delivery", "neonate", "newborn", "child", "baby", "infant", "fetus", "fetal", "opioid" and "opiate" as well as performed an additional MeSH Terms search in PubMed. RESULTS: Of 355 potentially relevant studies, we included 23 studies in this review. The studies varied widely in quality, sample size, and outcome criteria. Neonatal outcome was often only a secondary endpoint. Rarely were significant differences related to neonatal outcome reported between the different systemic opioids or compared with control groups. Twelve studies compared neonatal APGAR scores between treatment groups, with ten (83%) of these studies showing no differences. DISCUSSION/OUTLOOK: In summary, we assess the evidence as limited and ambiguous as to whether systemic obstetric opioid therapy negatively affects the newborn. Studies regarding the long-term outcome of the newborns are lacking. A statement regarding the necessity of postnatal monitoring of newborns after maternal obstetric opioid therapy cannot be concluded. Further studies, ideally with a prospective study design and control group, should be considered. Thieme. All rights reserved.
INTRODUCTION: Three-quarters of all women receive analgesia during labor. There are regional and systemic analgesia procedures available. In this review, we investigate the impact of obstetric analgesia using systemic opioids on neonatal outcomes. METHODS: We searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases using the following search terms: "meptazinol", "meptide", "analgesia", "painkiller", "pain reliever", "obstetrics", "labor", "labour", "delivery", "neonate", "newborn", "child", "baby", "infant", "fetus", "fetal", "opioid" and "opiate" as well as performed an additional MeSH Terms search in PubMed. RESULTS: Of 355 potentially relevant studies, we included 23 studies in this review. The studies varied widely in quality, sample size, and outcome criteria. Neonatal outcome was often only a secondary endpoint. Rarely were significant differences related to neonatal outcome reported between the different systemic opioids or compared with control groups. Twelve studies compared neonatal APGAR scores between treatment groups, with ten (83%) of these studies showing no differences. DISCUSSION/OUTLOOK: In summary, we assess the evidence as limited and ambiguous as to whether systemic obstetric opioid therapy negatively affects the newborn. Studies regarding the long-term outcome of the newborns are lacking. A statement regarding the necessity of postnatal monitoring of newborns after maternal obstetric opioid therapy cannot be concluded. Further studies, ideally with a prospective study design and control group, should be considered. Thieme. All rights reserved.