RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Pudendal nerve block is one of the many methods of providing analgesia during the second stage of labor. This study was conducted in a university based tertiary hospital. The efficacy of pudendal nerve block was compared to low spinal anesthesia in patients who delivered vaginally METHODS: Thirty four parturients randomly received either pudendal nerve block (n=17) or low spinal anesthesia (n=17) during the second stage of labor. Those requiring analgesia during the first stage of labor were given a single shot epidural dose using bupivacaine 0.125 percent. No intravenous sedatives or analgesics were given throughout labor and delivery. Pain scores using a visual analog scale of 0.10 were recorded as well as the mean onset, mean duration and mean Apgar scores of the two groups. Complications of either technique were also noted down RESULTS: In pudendal nerve block, the mean pain score was 4.88 compared to 0 (zero) in spinal anesthesia. The pudendal group showed a longer onset, shorter duration of analgesia than the spinal group. The only complications noted were mild hypotension (11.7 percent) and minimal motor block (29.4 percent) seen in the spinal group. The mean Apgar scores of the two groups were greater than 7 and was not significantly different CONCLUSION: Pudendal nerve block is a simple and safe method of providing analgesia. The significant reduction of the pain score to more than half may imply a reduction in the amount of intravenous analgesics and potent sedatives often employed during labor and delivery. (Author)