INTRATHECAL SUFENTANIL COMPARED WITH EPIDURAL BUPIVACAINE ANALGESIA IN LABOR

Epidural analgesia for pain relief during labour has certain disadvant ages including slow onset. However, intrathecal sufentanil provides ra pid onset and well-controlled analgesia lasting 1-4 h. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesia and the side effects of intratheca l sufentanil with epidural bupivacaine during labour. In a randomized, double-blind and controlled trial 58 parturient women requesting anal gesia during labour were studied. The patients received either intrath ecal sufentanil 10 mu g and epidural saline, or intrathecal saline and epidural bupivacaine 20 mg. Visual analogue scores (VAS) for pain, bl ood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, level of sedation and the incidence of pruritus and nausea were recorded. Pain scores were signi ficantly lower between 5 and 90 min after injection in patients receiv ing intrathecal sufentanil. Pruritus was significantly more frequent a mong those receiving intrathecal sufentanil. The rapid onset and effec tive analgesia of intrathecal sufentanil may in certain situations be advantageous.