Labor analgesia in preeclampsia: remifentanil patient controlled intravenous analgesia versus epidural analgesia.
BACKGROUND
Epidural analgesia is considered to be the preferred method of labor analgesia in preeclamptic patients. Systemic opioids are another good effective, easy to administer alternative but may cause maternal and fetal respiratory depression. Remifentanil's rapid onset and offset of effects, should make it an ideal drug for the intermittent painful contraction during labor. Method. 30 preeclamptic patients were randomly assigned to one of two equal groups; Epidural Group: received epidural analgesia according to a standardized protocol using bupivacaine plus fentanyl. REMIFENTANIL GROUP: PCA was set up to deliver remlfentanil 0.5 microg/kg as a loading bolus infused over 20 seconds, lockout time of 5 minutes, PCA bolus of 0.25 microg/kg, continuous background infusion of 0.05 microg/kg/min, and maximum dose is 3 mg in 4 hours. Women were advised to start the PCA bolus when they feel the signs of a coming uterine contraction.


RESULTS
All women demonstrated a significant decrease in VAS score in the first hour after administration of analgesia (P < 0.05). Analgesic quality as regard Visual Analog Pain Scores, sedation score, and post-delivery patient satisfaction in both groups, are comparable (P > 0.05). PCA remifentanil infusion until time of delivery produce no observable maternal, fetal or neonatal side effects (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PCA intravenous remifentanil is an effective option for pain relief with minimal maternal and neonatal side effects in labor for preeclamptic patients with contraindications to epidural analgesia or requesting opioid analgesia.
El-Kerdawy
Hala
H
Department of Anesthesia, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. helkerdawy@hotmail.com
Farouk
Adel
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D005283:Fentanyl; D002045:Bupivacaine