Comparison of pain score and complications following acetaminophen and pethidine injection during vaginal delivery: A double-blind clinical trial

Background and Aim : Recently intravenous acetaminophen has been introduced as an intervention withanalgesic potential similar to that of opioid analgesics in labor pain management. The aim of this study wasto compare the pain score and maternal and neonatal complications following acetaminophen and pethidineinjections during vaginal delivery.Methods : This randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted on pregnant women during the firststage of delivery. The subjects were assigned randomly to one of the two groups; (acetaminophen andpethidine). The pain intensity was measured before and 15, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes after injection.Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 19.0.Results : The pain score and pain score changes showed no significant difference between the two groupsat different times. The incidence of maternal complications during delivery and the first hour after deliverywas not statistically significant between two groups, but 15 minutes after injection, vomiting (P=0.001),nausea (P=0.001), and dizziness (P=0.001) were significantly higher in pethidine group. The mean first andfifth minutes Apgar score was significantly higher in acetaminophen group.Conclusion : intravenous acetaminophen led to fewer maternal complications than pethidine, especiallyduring the first 15 minutes after injection and fewer neonatal complications, especially in the Apgar score.

Keywords:

labor pain , maternal complications , neonatal complications , acetaminophen , pethidine