A brief review of obstetrics analgesia practised in the United Kingdom
Authors:
Matloch Zdeněk 1,2; Matlochová Sylvie 1
Authors‘ workplace:
South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, Torbay District General Hospital, Devon, United Kingdom
1; Klinika anesteziologie a resuscitace, Kardiocentrum, Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny, Praha
2
Published in:
Anest. intenziv. Med., 24, 2013, č. 2, s. 102-106
Category:
Postgraduate education
Overview
There are several techniques of labour analgesia. Non-regional techniques have predominantly supportive role and inhalation of Entonox is preferred over systemic opioid administration. Inhalation of Entonox is very popular in the United Kingdom. It provides reasonable analgesia and is suitable mainly in hospitals where other analgesic options are limited. The Entonox is being self-administered by the parturients which also provides a certain degree of satisfaction. The gold standard among regional techniques is epidural analgesia, offering the best analgesia. Several recently conducted randomised controlled trials confirm that epidural analgesia is not associated with an increased incidence of LSCS (Low Segment Caesarean Section) or backache after childbirth. However, several studies have demonstrated a modest prolongation of the second stage of labour and an increase in the operative vaginal delivery rate. Remifentanil PCA is a relatively new method of labour analgesia and is mainly indicated for mothers in whom epidural analgesia is contraindicated or difficult/impossible to establish.
Keywords:
labour analgesia – Entonox – Remifentanil – epidural analgesia
Sources
1. www.frca.co.uk
2. Guidelines South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
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Labels
Anaesthesiology, Resuscitation and Inten Intensive Care MedicineArticle was published in
Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
2013 Issue 2
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