Intravenous Remifentanil for Labor Analgesia - A Review

Abstract

In modern obstetrics there has been a need for safe, efficient, and easy-to-use systemic analgesia with a rapid and short onset, and without an effect on either mother or fetus. Although epidural analgesia remains the gold standard for labor analgesia, opioids applied intravenously can be very useful in cases when epidural analgesia is contraindicated, refused by the patient, or in the absence of skilled anesthesiologist. Closest to the ideal for systemic analgesia is remifentanil, a potent, ultra short-acting μ-1 agonist, which is rapidly metabolized in both mother and fetus. This article, through a literature review, will present the efficacy of remifentanil, its pharmacokinetics, the most effective dose, the safety for both mother and fetus and satisfaction for the mother. The results available show that remifentanil can be quite a satisfactory alternative to neuroaxial analgesia, hence taking its deserved place in modern obstetrics. A low number of reported side effects from mother and child are enough to open a field for future research.