Differences in maternal temperature during labour with remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia or epidural analgesia: a randomised controlled trial

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia and remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia are two popular techniques for the treatment of labour pain, each with its own efficacy and toxicity. METHODS: Parturients requesting analgesia were randomly assigned to either patient-controlled intravenous remifentanil or epidural analgesia. Control patients consisted of parturients not requesting pain medication. The primary objective was to compare the incidence of maternal fever (temperature 38 degrees C); secondary outcomes included the incidence of low oxygen saturation, pain scores, nausea and vomiting, sedation scores, pruritus and neonatal outcome. RESULTS: Data from 140 parturients were analysed: 49 received remifentanil analgesia, 49 epidural analgesia and 42 no analgesia (controls). Fever (temperature 38 degrees C) developed in 10% of remifentanil patients compared to 37% of epidural patients and 7% of control patients (P<0.001). One or more hypoxaemic events (oxygen saturation