Inhaled intrapartum analgesia using a 50–50 % mixture of nitrous oxide–oxygen in a low-income hospital setting

Abstract

Inhaled intrapartum analgesia using a N(2)O-O(2) 50-50 % mixture provided rapid pain alleviation. It is an appealing, effective and safe method for the management of pain during labor, most useful at institutions with infrastructure and personnel limitations.

Implementation of an Evidence-Based Practice Change to Offer Nitrous Oxide During Labor

“…An inhaled blend of 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen has been widely used by laboring women internationally since the 1930s but is only recently gaining exposure in the United States as a pain reduction option for use during labor and the immediate postpartum period women who received nitrous oxide after 1 hour of inhalation (Pita et al, 2012). Overall, the literature on the efficacy of nitrous oxide for pain relief in labor indicates that although inhaled nitrous oxide is not as effective for pain control as traditional pharmacologic methods, women's perceptions of pain are reduced.…”

“…Pita et al 2012and Naddoni et al (2016) found no statistically significant changes in maternal vital signs or hemodynamic changes with nitrous oxide. The most frequently reported adverse effect was mild dizziness, which was well tolerated (Pita et al, 2012). Likis et al (2014) reported maternal adverse effects including drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, blurred vision, weakness, nausea, and vomiting, but these were mild and well tolerated.…”

“…The evidence is not clear regarding women's satisfaction with nitrous oxide during labor. Pita et al (2012) reported that 92.6% of participants were satisfied with pain management using inhaled nitrous oxide, but it is not clear how their satisfaction was measured. In the systematic review by Rosen (2002), maternal satisfaction was assessed through observational methods and comments from parturient women, and participants indicated that they would opt to use inhaled nitrous oxide for future experiences of labor.…”

Effectiveness of nitrous oxide in external cephalic version on success rate: A randomized controlled trial

“…8,9 More recently, Pita et al showed that its equimolar mixture during labor significantly reduced pain and that more than 95% of the women able to use it recommended its use. 10 We therefore chose to test the use of mixed N 2 O/O 2 for this procedure. Because these previous studies were not randomized trials, we considered it necessary to conduct a randomized controlled trial to confirm them and improve the level of proof on this topic.…”

Medical workers’ cognition of using 50% nitrous oxide in children with burns: A qualitative study

“…It is exhaled in prototype with breathing and is considered the safest, most effective inhaled analgesic [6][7][8]. The gas is mainly used for painless delivery [9][10][11], dental extraction and implantation [12][13][14], painless abortion [15][16][17], and endoscopy [18], all of which require conscious analgesia.…”