A Comparison of Tramadol and Pethidine Analgesia on the Duration of Labour

Background: A standard obstetric analgesic should have a good analgesic effect without reducing the intensity of uterine contraction. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of intramuscular tramadol and pethidine on labor pain and duration.Material and Methods: A total of ۱۷۰ multigravida women in active labor were randomly assigned to two identical groups, so that ۸۵ pregnant women received pethidine (۵۰mg/۲ml) and ۸۵ pregnant women received tramadol (۱۰۰mg/۲ml) intramuscularly.Results: The labor duration in the tramadol group was shorter than in the pethidine group. In ۱st stage of labor, ۶۴.۷% of the participants in the tramadol group received the drug for ۱۲۰±۳۰ minutes, while ۶۷.۱% in the pethidine group received the drug for ۱۸۰±۳۰ minutes. In the ۲nd stage, ۴۴.۷% of the participants in the tramadol group received the drug for ۱۵±۵ minutes, while ۵۱.۸% in the pethidine group received the drug for ۲۵±۵ minutes. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used before, and ۱ and ۳ hours after drug administration. The pethidine group obtained a lower VAS mean score compared to those in the tramadol group at ۱ hour after drug administration (۴ vs ۶; P≤.۰۰۱). Moreover, there was a significant higher level of vomiting and dizziness among women in the pethidine group (۲۹.۴% vs ۱.۲%; P≤.۰۰۱).Conclusion: Tramadol appears to lead to a shorter labor duration and cause lower maternal side-effects, although its analgesic efficacy was not as much as pethidine.

Keywords:

Labor duration , Pethidine , Randomized trial , Tramadol , VAS score