Subcutaneous fentanyl for labour analgesia: a retrospective case note review

In 2017, a South Australia Perinatal Practice Guideline was introduced state-wide for the use of subcutaneous fentanyl for labour analgesia as a replacement for intramuscular pethidine. We retrospectively reviewed the implementation of this practice change in our institution.

A retrospective review of maternal and neonatal case notes for the first 100 women administered subcutaneous fentanyl in labour at a single tertiary referral centre for maternity care, between February and June 2017.

Of the 102 women administered subcutaneous fentanyl, the majority (55%) were primipara, with an average maternal age of 29 years and body mass index of 27 kg/m². The median total fentanyl dose administered was 200 µg and the average time from last dose to birth was 3 h. The majority of women (70%) did not require additional rescue labour analgesia and 80% had a spontaneous vaginal birth. All neonates had a 5-min Apgar score >7. The median Apgar score at 1 and 5 min was 9. No neonate had an arterial cord blood pH <7.1. The mean arterial and venous cord blood pH was 7.3. The average time for neonates to establish breathing was 1 min and the median postnatal length of stay was two days.

Subcutaneous fentanyl for labour analgesia appears effective and has a low incidence of adverse events.