• Islam M Massad, Maysa M Khadra, Fawaz A Alkazaleh, Ayman M Qatawneh, Shawqi S Saleh, and Sami A Abu-Halaweh.
• Department of General Surgery, Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Jordan, Jordan University Hospital, PO Box 13046, Amman, Jordan. islam_wafa@yahoo.com
• Saudi Med J. 2007 Jun 1;28(6):904-8.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of bupivacaine-meperidine and bupivacaine-fentanyl mixtures when continuously infused epidurally to relief the labor pain.MethodsWe performed this prospective double-blinded study at Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan between October 2005 and April 2006. Sixty-seven American Society of Anesthesia physical status I parturients were randomly divided into 2 groups, Group M (n=34) received a continuous infusion of 1 mg/ml of bupivacaine mixed with 1 mg/ml meperidine, and Group F (n=33) received a continuous infusion of 1 mg/ml bupivacaine mixed with 2 micrometer/ml fentanyl. Efficacy of analgesia, degree of motor block, hemodynamic variability, incidence of nausea and vomiting, pruritus, sedation, and the neonatal outcome were all compared between the 2 groups. A p value <0.05 was considered to be significant.ResultsHighly effective analgesia was achieved in both groups with a similar incidence of motor block, sedation, pruritus, and neonatal outcome. The only significant difference was in the incidence of nausea and vomiting. Group M had 8 parturients with nausea, compared with only 2 parturients in Group F (p=0.003).ConclusionBupivacaine-meperidine in a continuous epidural infusion is as efficient as bupivacaine-fentanyl for pain relief during labor, but associated with a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting.

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