ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Labour analgesia, though practiced worldwide, is not very popular in low-income countries. The aim of the study was to assess the awareness, attitude, acceptance, and reasons for hindrance of labour analgesia among patients visiting a tertiary care center in the capital city Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted in Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient department of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital in the month of August 2017. All pregnant patients presenting for antenatal checkup was included. Data was collected based on a questionnaire after informed consent. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS version 20 and results were expressed in frequencies and percentage. RESULTS: Total of 270 pregnant women participated in the study. Out of these forty-four (16.3%) patients were aware about labour analgesia. The acceptance rate was high (72.2%). Majority (84.6%) had no problem with expenditure associated with labour analgesia. CONCLUSIONS: Despite low awareness about painless delivery among the antenatal women, the acceptance rate is high.
Subject(s)
Analgesia/psychology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Hospitals, Teaching , Labor Pain/drug therapy , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Adult , Age Factors , Analgesia/methods , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Nepal , Pregnancy , Socioeconomic Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Various adjuvants to local anaesthetic are used to improve quality and duration of spinal anaesthesia. Dexmedetomidine, a novel alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, has been proposed to augment local anaesthetic effects. This study aims to investigate effects of intrathecal Dexmedetomidine on duration of analgesia and duration of sensory block during spinal anaesthesia. METHODS: In this randomized double-blind study 38 patients were allocated into each of two groups. Otherwise healthy patients (18 to 75 years) scheduled for inguinal hernia repair or vaginal hysterectomy were included. For spinal anaesthesia, Group A received 2.5 ml hyperbaric Bupivacaine 0.5%, whereas Group B received five micrograms intrathecal Dexmedetomidine in addition. Characteristics of sensory and motor blocks, duration of analgesia, analgesic requirements, and side effects were studied for 24 hours. Student's t-test for quantitative variables and Chi- squared test for qualitative variables were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Duration of analgesia was prolonged in Group B (326 min ±91) as compared to 217 min ±98 in Group A (P value <0.05). Sensory and motor block durations were significantly prolonged in Group B. Time taken to reach significant peak sensory block level was earlier in Group B. Significant reductions in incidence of visceral pain, shivering and analgesic requirements were observed in Dexmedetomidine group, without increased need of medications for altered hemodynamic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine as an intrathecal adjuvant to hyperbaric Bupivacaine in spinal anaesthesia prolongs duration of analgesia and sensory block with minimal adverse effects.
