Comparative efficacy of epidural clonidine versus epidural fentanyl for treating breakthrough pain during labor: a randomized double-blind clinical trial

Adjuvant medications are combined with local anesthetic solutions for the maintenance of neuraxial labor analgesia due to their synergistic and additive analgesic effects.1 –3 Co-administration with local anesthetic results in local anesthetic dose-sparing effects which may decrease motor block, hypotension and rates of assisted vaginal delivery.4 Lipophilic opioids are widely used for neuraxial labor analgesia but are associated with unpleasant dose-dependent side e ffects including pruritus, nausea and vomiting and urinary retention.
Source: International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research