title: Patient satisfaction between remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia and epidural analgesia for labor pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare patient satisfaction between remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia (RPCA) and epidural analgesia (EA) for labor pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective cohort study was carried out on primiparous women requesting analgesia for labor at a Teaching Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Women self-selected the analgesia of choice (RPCA n = 166 and EA n = 124) and were asked to complete the Woman's Views of Birth Labour Satisfaction Questionnaire (WOMBSLQ), within 24 h (T0), 3 months (T3) and 6 months (T6) after birth. The WOMBSLQ comprises 11 subscales, including pain during labor and general satisfaction. The main outcome measure was general satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the subscale of general satisfaction with labor and delivery (maximum of 14 points) between both groups at all three time points [median score at T0 for RPCA was 12 vs. 13 for the EA group (p = 0.95); at T3: 12 vs. 12, respectively (p = 0.41); and at T6: 12 vs. 12, respectively (p = 0.69)]. Women in the EA group had significantly better pain relief (maximum of 21 points) at all three time points [median score at T0 for RPCA was 14 vs. 18 for the EA group (p < 0.001); at T3: 13 vs. 17, respectively (p = 0.002); and at T6: 13 vs. 17, respectively (p = 0.003)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both self-selected groups did not differ in general satisfaction with labor and delivery at all three time points after birth despite a significantly higher experienced pain in the RPCA group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frauenfelder
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Rijn
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Celine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Radder
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, St. Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Myrtille C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Epidemiology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lea M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dijksman
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marc B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Godfried
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009426:Netherlands; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D000077208:Remifentanil; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil
keywords: Analgesia; epidural analgesia; labor pain; obstetrics; patient-controlled analgesia; remifentanil