• Rhona J McInnes, Edith Hillan, Diana Clark, and Harper Gilmour.
• School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Glasgow, UK.
• BJOG. 2004 Oct 1;111(10):1081-9.

ObjectivesTo compare the efficacy of diamorphine administered by a patient-controlled pump (patient-controlled analgesia) with intramuscular administration for pain relief in labour.DesignRandomised controlled trial.SettingThe South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.SamplePrimigravidae and multigravidae in labour at term (37-42 weeks).MethodsWomen were randomised in labour to the study (patient-controlled analgesia) or control group (intramuscular). Randomisation was achieved through a random permuted block design stratified by parity. Study group women were given a loading dose of 1.2 mg diamorphine intravenously and then attached to the pump. Control group women received intramuscular diamorphine as per hospital protocol. Participants were also given 3 mg of buccal Stemetil. Data were collected throughout labour and at six postnatal weeks.Main Outcome MeasuresAnalgesia requirements during labour and women's satisfaction with the method of pain relief.ResultsWomen in the study group (patient-controlled analgesia) used significantly less diamorphine than women in the control group (intramuscular) but were significantly more likely to state that they were very dissatisfied with their use of diamorphine and were significantly more likely to opt out of the trial before the birth of the baby. The majority of women in both groups used other analgesia concurrent with diamorphine such as Entonox, aromatherapy or TENS.ConclusionsPatient-controlled analgesia administration of diamorphine for the relief of pain in labour offers no significant advantages over intramuscular administration. The results also suggest that diamorphine is a poor analgesic for labour pain irrespective of the mode of administration.

19 keywords...

hide…