open access

Vol 94, No 4 (2023)
Research paper
Published online: 2022-06-03
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Influence of Entonox (mixture of 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen) on physiological labor and neonatal outcome in own material

Piotr Minowski1, Malgorzata Swiatkowska-Freund12, Krzysztof Preis3
·
Pubmed: 35894491
·
Ginekol Pol 2023;94(4):315-319.
Affiliations
  1. Kociewskie Centrum Zdrowia, Starogard Gdanski, Poland
  2. Academy of Applied Medical and Social Sciences, Elblag, Poland
  3. Medical University of Gdansk, Poland

open access

Vol 94, No 4 (2023)
ORIGINAL PAPERS Obstetrics
Published online: 2022-06-03

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare maternal and neonatal outcome of delivery with inhaled anesthesia to delivery without pain control.
Material and methods: Authors performed retrospective analysis of 260 term deliveries. In the study group (130 women) a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen was used. The control group included 130 patients who used no pain relief during delivery.
Results: In nulliparas the pain assessment in 11-points scale was similar in both groups, but the labor was longer (350 ± 152 vs 228 ± 113 minutes; p < 0.001 for the first stage and 46 ± 37 vs 18 ± 18 minutes; p < 0.001 for the second stage), episiotomy incidence was higher (81.4% vs 41.9%; p < 0.001) and perineal laceration lower (2.3% vs 25.7%; p < 0.001) in the study group.

In multiparas the pain assessment was lower in the study group (5 vs 7 points; p = 0.006), oxytocin was administered more frequently (45.5% vs 21.4%, p = 0.011), but labor duration was the same in both groups. Episiotomy was more frequent (61.4% vs 37.5%, p = 0.02), but there was no difference in perineal laceration.

Apgar score was the same in the study and control group.

Conclusions: We found that Entonox prolongs labor significantly and increases frequency of episiotomy in primiparas with no clear analgesic effect. Offering Entonox to the patients giving birth for the first time is thus questionable. In multiparas it has a good analgesic effect but increases probability of episiotomy with no significant influence on perineal tear, what seems not very high cost of decreased pain related to delivery.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare maternal and neonatal outcome of delivery with inhaled anesthesia to delivery without pain control.
Material and methods: Authors performed retrospective analysis of 260 term deliveries. In the study group (130 women) a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen was used. The control group included 130 patients who used no pain relief during delivery.
Results: In nulliparas the pain assessment in 11-points scale was similar in both groups, but the labor was longer (350 ± 152 vs 228 ± 113 minutes; p < 0.001 for the first stage and 46 ± 37 vs 18 ± 18 minutes; p < 0.001 for the second stage), episiotomy incidence was higher (81.4% vs 41.9%; p < 0.001) and perineal laceration lower (2.3% vs 25.7%; p < 0.001) in the study group.

In multiparas the pain assessment was lower in the study group (5 vs 7 points; p = 0.006), oxytocin was administered more frequently (45.5% vs 21.4%, p = 0.011), but labor duration was the same in both groups. Episiotomy was more frequent (61.4% vs 37.5%, p = 0.02), but there was no difference in perineal laceration.

Apgar score was the same in the study and control group.

Conclusions: We found that Entonox prolongs labor significantly and increases frequency of episiotomy in primiparas with no clear analgesic effect. Offering Entonox to the patients giving birth for the first time is thus questionable. In multiparas it has a good analgesic effect but increases probability of episiotomy with no significant influence on perineal tear, what seems not very high cost of decreased pain related to delivery.

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Keywords

analgesic effect; labor; labor pain management; nitrous oxide; pain; pain relief

About this article
Title

Influence of Entonox (mixture of 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen) on physiological labor and neonatal outcome in own material

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 94, No 4 (2023)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

315-319

Published online

2022-06-03

Page views

2392

Article views/downloads

596

DOI

10.5603/GP.a2022.0039

Pubmed

35894491

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2023;94(4):315-319.

Keywords

analgesic effect
labor
labor pain management
nitrous oxide
pain
pain relief

Authors

Piotr Minowski
Malgorzata Swiatkowska-Freund
Krzysztof Preis

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