Pain relief in labor - tramadol versus pentazocine

OBJECTIVE(S) : To assess the efficacy and safety of intramuscular tramadol hydrochloride as an analgesic during labor compared to those of pentazocine. METHOD(S): The study was conducted on 200 primigravidas and second gravidas in labor at term. They were alternately divided into two groups. The study group (n=100), received 100 mg of tramadol and the control group (n=100) received 30 mg of pentazocine intramuscularly at the onset of active labor. Maternal cardiovascular parameters, side effets, degree of analgesia and progress of labor were noted. RESULTS : Pain relief was satisfactory in 37% vs 14% (P<0.002), moderate 38% vs 34% (P=0.63) and mild 16% vs 42% (P <0.006) in the tramadol and pentazocine groups respectively. Injection delivery interval was significantly shorter in the tramodol group, being only 3 hours 17 minutes +/- 2 hours 5 minutes vs 4 hours 21 minutes +/- 2 hours 6 minutes in the pentazocine group (P=0.002). Side effects were significantly less in the study group (18% vs 40%; (P=<0.001). CONCLUSION(S) : Tramadol is an effective and safe labor analgesic, producing moderate to satisfactory analgesia. Besides it also significantly shortens the duration of labor (P<0.05).