Comparison of Complications with Magnesium Sulphate & Fentanyl as Adjuvants for Epidural Labor Analgesia

Abstract

Introduction: Effective and safe analgesia during labor has remained an ongoing challenge. Many pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of labor analgesia have been adopted over the years. Of these, neuraxial or regional analgesia has become the most popular method. Possible regional anesthesia techniques include epidural analgesia, spinal analgesia, or a combination of epidural and spinal analgesia. This study aimed to compare the complications with magnesium sulfate and fentanyl as adjuvants for epidural labor analgesia. Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesia, Analgesia, Palliative and Intensive Care Medicine in collaboration with the obstetric department, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka.Bangladesh. The study was carried out from October 2020 to March 2021. A total of 60 patients were assigned by computer- generated random table to one group (Group A) and another group (Group B). Group-A (n=30): Group-A received Fentanyl 25 micrograms as adjuvant to bupivacaine (0.5% plain bupivacaine 2.5 ml+25 microgram of fentanyl 0.005% 0.5 ml + 7 ml normal saline=10 ml) via epidural catheter. Group B received MgSO4 50 mg as an adjuvant to bupivacaine (0.5% plain bupivacaine 2.5 ml + 50 mg of MgSO4 10% 0.5 ml +7 ml normal saline=10 ml) via epidural catheter. Data were statistically described in terms of mean ± standard deviation (±SD), or frequencies (number of cases) and percentages when appropriate. Comparison of numerical variables between the study groups was done using the student t-test for independent samples. For comparing categorical data, a Chi-square (x2) test was performed. P values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. F-value was determined by the Repeated measured ANOVA test where data were repeated more than one time. All statistical calculations were done using the computer program SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 22 for ........