Maternal and Neonatal Fentanyl and Bupivacaine Concentrations After Epidural Infusion During Labor

Comparison of fentanyl and sufentanil as adjuncts to bupivacaine for labor epidural analgesia

“…Our results are in contrast to those of many studies using varying recipes of opioids and local anesthetics, in which both fentanyl one to two μg/mL and sufentanil 0.25-0.33 μg/mL, used with bupivacaine 0.0625-0.125%, were similarly effective and safe for the fetus and newborn, even with prolonged infusions [12][13][14]. Our results are in keeping with other studies that used potency ratios varying from 8:1 to 2:1.…”

Behavioral effects of perinatal opioid exposure

“…However, the use of continuous-infusion epidural analgesia with lowdose bupivacaine and fentanyl over periods of up to 15 h during labor did not result in significant drug accumulation in either the mother or the neonate (Bader et al, 1995). Despite this fact, later consequences of opioid use during labor were present.…”

The Effect of Labor Pain Relief Medication on Neonatal Suckling and Breastfeeding Duration

“…4 The concentration of epidural analgesia typically used for pain relief has progressively lowered over the years as it has become evident that lower doses 7 Original Research are as effective as higher concentrations and result in better infant outcomes. 3,5,6 Studies examining the effect of epidural analgesia during labor on breastfeeding outcomes typically compare birth outcomes among women who receive various types and dosages of labor medications; few include women who received no analgesia during labor. For instance, Scanlon 7 compared neonatal neurobehavior responses between an epidural analgesia group and a nonepidural group.…”