Prescribing intramuscular opioids for labour analgesia in consultant-led maternity units: a survey of UK practice.
BACKGROUND
Intramuscular opioids are widely used for analgesia in labour. We conducted a postal survey to establish current prescribing and monitoring guidelines for intramuscular opioids in consultant-led obstetric units in the UK.


METHODS
A postal questionnaire was sent between December 2005 and January 2006 to the lead obstetric anaesthetist of all 234 consultant-led obstetric units in the UK. We enquired about dose regimens of intramuscular opioids in labour and monitoring of mother, fetus and neonate.


RESULTS
The response rate was 71%; 84.4% of responding units used pethidine and 34.1% diamorphine. Meptazinol and morphine were available in 13.8% and 13.2% of units respectively. Some units used more than one opioid. The choice of opioid was dictated mainly by tradition (65.3%) and familiarity (40.7%). Prophylactic antiemetics were co-administered in 73.7% of units, the most commonly used being prochlorperazine (30.5%). Vital signs were monitored in 91.6% of units: in total 10.2% measured haemoglobin oxygen saturations and 4.8% respiratory rate. Pain scores were recorded in 13.7% of units.


CONCLUSIONS
When compared with previous studies the use of intramuscular diamorphine is increasing in UK consultant-led obstetric units, although pethidine remains the widely used opioid. At present this change cannot be justified by a suitably powered, randomised study comparing intramuscular pethidine with diamorphine.
Tuckey
J P
JP
Department of Anaesthesia, Royal United Hospital Bath, UK. Jenny.Tuckey@ruh-bath.swest.nhs.uk
Prout
R E
RE
Wee
M Y K
MY
D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000932:Antiemetics