Anest. intenziv. Med. 2013;24(2):102-106

A brief review of obstetrics analgesia practised in the United KingdomPostgraduate education

Matloch Zdeněk^1,2,*, Matlochová Sylvie¹

¹ South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, Torbay District General Hospital, Devon, United Kingdom

² Klinika anesteziologie a resuscitace, Kardiocentrum, Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny, Praha

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

Published: April 1, 2013  Show citation