Effectiveness of intravenous meperidine for pain relief in the first stage of labour.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness and side effects of intravenous meperidine in labour pain relief.


METHODS
A double blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in 84 parturients, using normal saline as control. Visual analogue scale, postpartum parturients' opinion of effectiveness, sedative scores, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, delivery method, Apgar scores, and naloxone prescription were assessed.


RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences between the mean and median of visual analogue scale of meperidine and control group. In addition, the sedative scores, nausea/vomiting and dizziness in the meperidine group occurred more than those in the control group significantly. Even mean of the pain increment in the meperidine group was less than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The parturients' opinion on the effectiveness of pain relief during labor within 24 hours of the first postpartum day was only 23.80 per cent in the meperidine group, however, it was statistically significantly different when compared to 7.10 per cent in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous meperidine exhibited the effectiveness of pain relief of only 23.80 per cent of the subjects, in addition, it may cause many side effects.
Soontrapa
Sukree
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Somboonporn
Woraluk
W
Komwilaisak
Ratana
R
Sookpanya
Sakuntala
S
D000328:Adult; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical / Q000379:methods; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007747:Labor Stage, First; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008614:Meperidine