Effectiveness of Entonox on Severity of Labor Pain in Women Referred to Maternity Ward of Imam Reza hospital, Kermanshah, 2007

Labor pain is one of the most severe pains ever to be experienced. Fear of labor pain is one of the most important causes for cesarean section to be chosen by pregnant women. It is important for labor pain to be tolerated in parturient. Entonox that is used for pain relief is safe, inexpensive, and reasonably effective in labor analgesic. Hence, this study aimed to ascertain of entonox efficacy on reduction of labor pain. This study is a self-controlled clinical trial. In maternity ward of Imam Reza hospital, 40 nullipar, aged 16-30 years and without any contraindication for inhalation of entonox were selected. Sampling method was convenience. Mean of pain was scaled before and after inhalation of entonox according to numeric pain scale. Also APGAR score of neonatal was considered after birth. Mean numeric pain scale decreased from 8/82±1/81 to 5/98±1/59 after inhalation of entonox.(p<0/005), potential adverse effects were drowsy(41/9%), mouth dryness (37/8%), light headedness and headache(23%) and nausea and vomiting (12/2%).Discussion & Taking into consideration the achievements of this study, entonox provides adequate effective analgesia for many pregnant women, and is, at the same time, safe for the mother and her baby.