A Combination of Inhaled Nitrous Oxide and Low-Dose Ketamine Infusion for Labor Analgesia

Abstract

(J Clin Anesth. 2019;57:64–65) While ketamine is useful in a labor analgesia setting, it is typically used infrequently due to its association with lower Apgar scores, uterine hypertonus, and maternal psychological reactions. Inhaled nitrous oxide (iNO) is another analgesia option, although it provides maternal anxiolytic effects but limited labor analgesia. Not much research has been done on using the combination of a low-dose ketamine infusion (<0.5 mg/kg/h intravenous) and iNO for labor analgesia. These authors outlined 2 cases that apply this analgesic regimen.