Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Paracetamol in Manament of Labour Pain

to compare between the use of single dose of paracetamol and pethidine hydrochloride intravenously in management of labour pains

investigators conducted a randomized clinical study included including 96 primiparous women admitted to Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Menoufia University Hospitals, starting the study from May 2019 to March 2020 to assess the use of paracetamol intravenously versus Pethidine HCL intravenously in management of intrapartum pain. After obtaining approval from the local ethics committee, women who agreed to participate gave their signed informed consent after explanation of the trial benefits and hazards

Cases were divided into 2 groups: Group I (paracetamol group): Included 48 pregnant women who received 1000 mg of intravenous paracetamol. The treatment was administered at the begining of the active phase of 1st stage of labor [roughly defined as a cervical dilatation of 3-4 cm and a cervical effacement ≥ 50%]. Group 2 (pethidine group): Included 48 pregnant women who received 50 mg of intravenous pethidine HCL diluted in 10 ml normal saline. The treatment was administered at the beginning of the active phase of 1st stage of labor [roughly defined as a cervical dilatation of 3-4 cm and a cervical effacement ≥ 50%]. Randomization was done by a computer-generated randomization system. Letters of the allocated were concealed in serially numbered opaque envelope that were only released after recruitment.

Letters of the allocated were concealed in serially numbered opaque envelope that were only released after recruitment.

Included 48 pregnant women who received 1000 mg of intravenous paracetamol. The treatment was administered at the begining of the active phase of 1st stage of labor [roughly defined as a cervical dilatation of 3-4 cm and a cervical effacement ≥ 50%].

Included 48 pregnant women who received 50 mg of intravenous pethidine HCL diluted in 10 ml normal saline. The treatment was administered at the beginning of the active phase of 1st stage of labor [roughly defined as a cervical dilatation of 3-4 cm and a cervical effacement ≥ 50%].

Labour pain was semi-objectively assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). In this technique, the patient is shown a ten cm line which represent at one end no pain and the other worst pain, and the patient is asked to point on the line where her pain lies. This scale has the added advantage that the pain can be given a numerical value.

Inclusion Criteria: Primiparous aged 18-35 years, Term live singleton pregnancy, Vertex presentation, Spontaneous onset of labor at term 37-42 weeks gestation, In active phase of of 1st stage of labour (cervix dilatation 3- 4 cm). Exclusion Criteria: Clinical evidence of cephalopelvic disproportion Use of any kind of analgesia prior to study Any medical disorder during pregnancy (liver or kidney impairment) Induction of labor, Intrauterine fetal death Evidence of fetal distress Antenatal diagnosis of congenital malformation Previous history of hypersensitivity to either drug Extremes of age (i.e. below 18 or above 35) Multiple pregnancies Cervical dilatation more than 6 cm.

Anter ME, Abdel Attey Saleh S, Shawkey Allam S, Mohamed Nofal A. Efficacy and safety of intravenous paracetamol in management of labour pains in a low resource setting: a randomized clinical trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022 Dec;35(25):6320-6328. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1911995. Epub 2021 Apr 26.