Epicutaneous application of A2358 compresses containing ketocaine for pain relief in labor. A multicenter double-blind trial

In the present multicenter trial 147 primigravidae were treated for low-back pain during the first stage of labor. 72 parturients were treated with A2358 compresses containing ketocaine, which were applied to the sacral lower-back region for one hour, 75 parturients were treated identically with compresses without the anesthetic drug. The pain relieving effect was almost the same in both treatment groups. The low-back pain was alleviated in about half of the mothers at 0.5, 10 and 1.5 hours after the application of both A2358 or control compresses. Supplementary analgesics had to be administered in about 60% of the parturients in both groups. The results show that factors other than ketocaine are involved in pain relief after application of A2358 compresses.