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[Intravenous remifentanyl for labor analgesia]
D Arnal1, M L Serrano, E M Corral
1Unidad de Anestesia y Reanimación, Fundación Hospital Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid. darnal@fhalcorcon.es
Revista Espanola De Anestesiologia Y Reanimacion
|June 20, 2009
Summary
Intravenous remifentanil offers effective and safe labor analgesia, outperforming other methods when regional techniques are not feasible. Further research is needed to optimize its administration and confirm maternal and fetal safety.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Intravenous remifentanil is a potential analgesic option when regional anesthesia is contraindicated during labor.
- Limited data exists on its efficacy and safety in obstetric pain management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the existing literature on the use of remifentanil for labor analgesia.
- To evaluate its effectiveness and safety profile compared to other analgesic options.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted in MEDLINE from January 1995 to August 2007.
- Studies focusing on obstetric analgesia utilizing remifentanil were included.
Main Results:
- Thirty-two references involving 257 laboring women were analyzed.
- Remifentanil provided significant pain relief and high patient satisfaction.
- It demonstrated superior analgesia with fewer adverse effects compared to meperidine and nitrous oxide.
Conclusions:
- Intravenous remifentanil is a more effective and safer alternative for labor analgesia than other non-regional techniques.
- Further studies are required to establish optimal infusion protocols and confirm long-term maternal and fetal safety.
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