Authors : Sudhir Pawar, B Naveen Naik, Vamsidhar Amburu, Tanvir Samra
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijca.2019.107
Volume : 6
Issue : 4
Year : 2019
Page No : 548-552
Introduction: Knowledge about relative merits and demerits of different techniques of administration
of drugs through epidural route is needed for optimum management of labour pain. Primary objective
of this study is to assess the efficacy of fentanyl and sufentanil for labour analgesia in comparison with
intramuscular tramadol.
Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized control study included 90 primigravida parturients
who were randomly allocated to three groups of 30 each; Fentanyl group (group BF) received 50 mg of
epidural fentanyl with 10 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine, Sufentanil group (group BS) received 10mg epidural
sufentanil with 10 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine and Tramadol group (group T), the control group received
100mg intramuscular tramadol with 50 mg repeat dose after 4 hours.
Results: Epidural groups were comparable in their visual analogue scale (VAS) score satisfaction score,
characteristics of sensory and motor blockade, mode of delivery, side effects, haemodynamic stability and
neonatal outcome. Value of VAS did not exceed 3 in the epidural group during the entire study period.
Onset of analgesia was early with sufentanil (10.52.1 mins, p< 0> used was also less (44.16 mg, p =0.002). Higher VAS scores (>4), delayed onset and decreased total
duration of labour was seen in tramadol group. Epidural and tramadol group were comparable in mode of
delivery and neonatal outcome.
Conclusion: Quality of epidural analgesia with either fentanyl or sufentanil using intermittent bolus
technique was comparable. Duration of first and second stage of labour was significantly prolonged in
parturients receiving labour epidural analgesia.
Keywords: Bupivacaine, Fentanyl, Sufentanil, Labour, Analgesia.