Retrospective study of remifentanil analgesia and length of labour v1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Retrospective observational study to investigate if remifentanil patient controlled analgesia is associated with a prolonged length of labour

• IRAS ID

  207672

• Contact name

  Samar Al-Rawi

• Contact email

  samar.al-rawi@uhs.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University Hospital Southampton

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 2 months, 6 days

• Research summary

  Does using remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia lead to a longer labour, when compared with other deliveries, including those where epidural analgesia is used?
  There is some evidence that opiates eg. diamorphine (strong painkillers) may prolong the length of labour by opposing the action of oxytocin, a natural hormone that is required for labour to progress [1].
  Remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is a push-button controlled intravenous painkiller and is a relatively novel method of pain-relief available to women in labour in some centres in the UK. Remifentanil is a fast onset short-acting opiate. Remifentanil PCA has been available on labour ward in Princess Anne Hospital, (University Hospital Southampton) for about 3 years and is used by approximately 300 women a year. Details of labour and birth are recorded routinely for all deliveries on a database on the hospital server for clinical and audit purposes.
  We plan to retrospectively examine this (already collected) data for the period 2014-2015 (two years) to establish what the length of labour is in women using remifentanil PCA and then to compare it to all women delivering in this timeframe. There will be no active participation of patients because the study is retrospective and looking at data already collected.
  The results will be used to update the patient information available to pregnant women, so that they have as much information as possible to help them decide what the best method of pain relief in labour will be, in particular comparing to other methods of pain relief such as epidurals.
  There is no funding required for the study and it will be agreed with the hospital's R&D team.
  [1] Wee MK et al. A comparison of intramuscular diamorphine and intramuscular pethidine for labour analgesia: a two-centre randomised blinded controlled trial. BJOG 2014;121:447-456

• REC name

  London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  16/LO/1819

• Date of REC Opinion

  29 Sep 2016

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion