Publication:

A study to assess efficacy of lower dose ketamine in labor analgesia and its effect on maternal and perinatal outcome

Background Present study is planned to study the effectiveness of lower dose ketamine in labor analgesia and its effect on progression of labor, maternal and perinatal outcome.

Methods After obtaining ethical approval from institutional ethical committee, a prospective randomized interventional case control study was conducted in Department of obstetrics and gynecology, N.S.C.B medical college, Jabalpur. Parturient in active labor without risk factors were given 0.2 mg/kg intravenous ketamine in bolus form and 0.1 mg/kg in maintenance dose at 30 minutes interval till full dilatation and the results were analyzed using VAS scale and WHO partogram.

Results In present study, 280 parturient were included in the study. In 140 cases, induction-delivery interval was shortened in 47.10% cases. Pain relief was satisfactory (VAS 2-8) in 77.90% cases. However, 80.70% cases had transient light headedness. Overall satisfaction was significantly high in the intervention group (P<0.001).

Conclusions A lower dose ketamine in bolus form with loading dose of 0.2 mg/kg followed by maintenance dose of 0.1 mg/kg could provide safe and acceptable analgesia during labor and delivery.