Active clinical trials for "Labor Pain"

An attempt is being made to see if by injecting a set volume of sterile saline into the epidural space during the treatment of labor pain with a combined spinal/epidural (CSE) increases the amount of pain relief obtained and makes the labor analgesia lasts longer. Subjects are in the study from the time their CSE is placed until they request additional pain medication from the spinal dose of numbing medicine wearing off.

Brief Summary: Until recently, at Mount Sinai Hospital, epidural analgesia for labor pain was delivered with a pump that could only provide continuous infusion of the freezing medication in combination of pushes of medication activated by the patient, a technique called patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). In the last decade or so, the literature has suggested that this continuous infusion of medication is not as effective as previously thought, and suggested that instead of continuous infusion, intermittent programmed pushes should be used. The investigators now have devices that are able to do that. Programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) is a new technological advance based on the concept that boluses of freezing medication in the epidural space are superior to continuous epidural infusion (CEI). The investigators are currently using pumps set up with PIEB, in addition to what the patient can deliver herself (PCEA). Studies have shown that delivering analgesia in this manner prolong the duration of analgesia, reduce motor block, lower the incidence of breakthrough pain, improve maternal satisfaction and decrease local anesthetic consumption. The investigators have recently concluded a study at MSH using PIEB where they observed excellent results. However, some patients exhibited higher than necessary sensory blocks. The investigators believe that the technique can be optimized by using the same dose of the freezing medication, but using a smaller volume of local anesthetic at a higher concentration. This optimization may also further reduce the amount of medication used by each patient. The hypothesis of this study is that there is an optimal interval time between PIEB boluses of 30 to 60 minutes at a fixed volume of 5 ml of bupivacaine 0.125% with fentanyl 2mcg/ml that will provide women the necessary drug requirements, thus avoiding breakthrough pain and need for PCEA or physician intervention.

In this study the analgesic effect of two different opioids (fentanyl and sufentanil) will be compared when given either intrathecally or epidurally in primiparous parturients during early phase of the labour.

At Mount Sinai Hospital, epidural analgesia for labor pain is delivered by programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB), in combination with pushes of medication activated by the patient, a technique called patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). Studies have shown that delivering analgesia in this manner can prolong the duration of analgesia, diminish motor block, lower the incidence of breakthrough pain, improve maternal satisfaction and decrease local anesthetic consumption comparing to a conventional continuous infusion. The use of this PIEB technique in routine practice has reduced the total consumption of local anesthetic and the percentage of patients requesting additional boluses (PCEA or manual rescues). However, at the same time, sensory blocks above those targeted for labor pain relief have been reported in our institution, suggesting that the spread of the freezing medication is wider than necessary. Based on the information already available in the literature, the investigators will conduct this study to determine the best regimen of PIEB achievable with a slower delivery speed. The hypothesis of this study is that PIEB boluses with 125 mL/h will decrease by 50% the incidence of women presenting sensory block to ice equal or higher than T6 as compared to a delivery rate of 250 mL/h.

Systematic opioids and inhaled nitrous oxide (N2O ) are common methods for pain relief during labor. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the efficacy of systemic pethidine compared to N2O given for pain relieve in term, multiparous women in labor.

Neuraxial labor analgesia is a very widely used technique for labor pain relief with a high efficacy and safety. EA (Epidural analgesia) can guarantee a proper control of pain in 95-100% of cases in the first stage of labor, but in the second stage his efficacy is not always adequate. DPEA (Dural Puncture Epidural Analgesia) is a variation of the conventional EA and technically a modified version of the CSE (Combined Spinal Epidural) analgesia. When compared with the traditional EA, DPEA showed satisfying, effective and fast control of labor pain, no motor block and less need for anesthetic boluses given through the epidural catheter when the maintenance of analgesia was guaranteed with manual top-ups, as well as less request for extra boluses of anesthetic when PIEB (Programmed Intermittent Epidural Boluses) was chosen for the maintenance of analgesia. Studies proved that DPEA is a safe technique and no statistically significant incidence of side effects for mothers and fetuses was observed. The hypothesis of this study is that a DPEA performed with a 27 G Whitacre spinal needle can especially improve the spread in the sacral region. The primary outcome of this study is to evaluate whether the DPEA performed with a 27-G Whitacre spinal needle is more effective in ensuring satisfying analgesia as a result of a better sacral analgesic spread, compared to the traditional EA.

Whole body vibration (WBV), which is a new treatment method and applied through the device, is defined as mechanical repetitive motion or oscillatory motion occurring around a balance point (5). Chronic nonspecific low back pain is still a serious clinical, social and economic health problem. There are few studies and limited evidence evaluating the effectiveness of WBV exercises in chronic nonspecific low back pain. Different protocols are used for wbv exercise in studies (6). Our aim is to compare the effects of whole body vibration exercise modality on pain, functional recovery, laboor impact, quality of life with control group in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

To compare the effects of epidural versus combined spinal and epidural (CSE) anesthesia on the success of Trial of Labor After Cesarean (TOLAC).

This is a prospective, randomized, double blind study, in which a comparison of patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) of continuous background infusion with demand dose and demand only, using ropivacaine 0,15% and fentanyl 2μg/ml for pain relief in labor, is being investigated. The purpose of the study is the assessment of the efficacy of labor analgesia and maternal satisfaction. Written informed consent is obtained by all parturients. Non invasive monitor of blood pressure, heart rate, SpO2, ECG for the patient and a continuous monitoring of the fetal heart rate is being placed. The participants are randomized in two groups, both receiving the same drug (ropivacaine 0,15% and fentanyl 2μg/ml). Group 0 receives demand dose of 5 ml with lockout of 10 minutes. Group 1 receives background infusion of 5 ml/h and demand dose of 5 ml with lockout 10 minutes. All parturients have to be instructed to self administration of epidural bolus dose when they experience mild to moderate pain. Both parturient and anesthetist who conducts the study and treat breakthrough pain, are blind to group assignment. After the last suture, total volume of epidural infusions of PCEA, total infused drug of PCEA pump, number of delivered PCEA boluses and manual rescue doses are being calculated. Time of delivery, mode of delivery, Apgar scores, and overall maternal satisfaction scores, neonate pH and Hct of the patient (ABGS), as well as possible need of newborn cardiopulmonary resuscitation are also recorded.

There are different medicinal and non medicinal methods to control labor pain. Today, much attention has been on non medicinal methods because of limitations and complications of medical procedures. Virtual reality is a new and promising method of diversion of mind that may have an impact on labor pain. This study was conducted to determine the effect of virtual reality on the first stage of labor pain.