Effects of Meperidine Administered in First Stage of Labour

Abstract

Several reports showed that meperidine has several side effects and risks toward newborn babies.  A randomised controlled trial study was undertaken to study the effects of a low dose administration of meperidine during the first stage of labour.  Simple randomization was used to assign participants to each of the three groups: control group (n=59) received a standard care in labour room without analgesia, low dose meperidine group received 25 mg intramuscular meperidine (n=64), regular dose meperidine group received 50 mg intramuscular meperidine (n=72).  The study results showed that the low dose group had higher sensation of pain than those of the regular dose group but lower than those of the control group.   None of these three groups had neonates with Apgar score between 1 and 3.  The majority of neonates from these three groups had Apgar score between 8 and 10.  The regular group had the highest incidence of assisted vaginal delivery (44.8%).  However, there is no significant difference on mode of delivery between these three groups.