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Nitrous Oxide for the Management of Labor Pain

Systematic Review ARCHIVED Aug 23, 2012
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Archived: This report is greater than 3 years old. Findings may be used for research purposes, but should not be considered current.

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Structured Abstract

Objectives

The Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center systematically reviewed evidence addressing the use of nitrous oxide for the management of labor pain.

Data Sources

We searched the MEDLINE®, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases for articles published in English.

Review Methods

We excluded studies that did not address a Key Question, were not original research, or had fewer than 20 participants. We identified a total of 58 publications, representing 59 distinct study populations: 2 of good quality, 11 fair, and 46 poor.

Results

Inhalation of nitrous oxide provided less effective pain relief than epidural analgesia, but the quality of studies was predominately poor. The heterogeneous outcomes used to assess women's satisfaction with their birth experience and labor pain management made synthesis of studies difficult. The strength of evidence was insufficient to determine the effect of nitrous oxide on route of birth. Most maternal harms reported in the literature were unpleasant side effects that affect tolerability (e.g., nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and drowsiness). Apgar scores in newborns whose mothers used nitrous oxide were similar to those of newborns whose mothers used other labor pain management methods or no analgesia. Evidence about occupational harms and exposure was limited.

Conclusions

The literature addressing nitrous oxide for the management of labor pain has few studies of good or fair quality. Synthesis of effectiveness and satisfaction studies is challenging because of heterogeneous interventions, comparators, and outcome measures. Research assessing nitrous oxide is needed across all of the Key Questions addressed: effectiveness, women's satisfaction, route of birth, harms, and health system factors affecting use.

Project Timeline

Nitrous Oxide for the Management of Labor Pain

Nov 10, 2010
May 11, 2011
Aug 23, 2012
Systematic Review Archived
Page last reviewed December 2019
Page originally created November 2017

Internet Citation: Systematic Review: Nitrous Oxide for the Management of Labor Pain. Content last reviewed December 2019. Effective Health Care Program, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/labor-nitrous-oxide/research

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