European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EPIDURAL OPIOID FOR LABOUR ANALGESIA: COMPARISON OF FENTANYL AND SUFENTANIL

Mallika Datta, Suman Chattopadhyay* and Satya Sadhan Roy

ABSTRACT

Lumbar epidural analgesia is popular for labour analgesia. In this observer blinded randomized prospective study 58 women in labour received a mixture of epidural bupivacaine 0.125% (12.5 mg) and either sufentanil 12.5 mcg (Group BS) or fentanyl 25 mcg (Group BF) to a total volume of 10 ml. The onset and duration of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia and VAS scores were compared. Vital parameters were monitored routinely, as also incidence of any significant side effects. The mode of delivery, Apgar scores, maternal satisfaction and cost effectiveness were noted between the two groups. The onset of sensory and motor blockade in both groups was similar. Mean duration of analgesia were also similar between Group BF (106 + 8.7 minutes) and Group BS (104 + 10.1 minutes) respectively. There was no significance difference in the pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, SPO2, and foetal heart rate between the groups. There was no hypotension, bradycardia, respiratory depression, hypoxia, shivering or vomiting in any patient. Mode of delivery and Apgar score was also comparable in both groups. However, cost of sufentanil was 6 times higher than fentanyl. We conclude fentanyl may be preferred for epidural labour analgesia for cost effectiveness and availability.

Keywords: Fentanyl, sufentanil, labour analgesia, epidural.