title: Non-Neuraxial Labor Analgesia: Options.
abstract: Although it is the most effective method to treat labor pain, neuraxial analgesia may be undesired, contraindicated, unsuccessful, or unavailable. Providing safe choices for labor pain relief is a central goal of health care providers alike. Consequently, knowledge of the efficacy, clinical implementation, and side effects of various non-neuraxial strategies is needed to provide appropriate options for laboring patients. In addition to nonpharmacologic alternatives, inhaled nitrous oxide and systemic opioids represent two broad classes of non-neuraxial pharmacologic labor analgesia most commonly available. This review summarizes the current published literature for these non-neuraxial labor analgesic options.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Anesthesia and Perioperative Care †OB/GYN and Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Markley
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rollins
mesh_terms: D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid