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. 2009 Apr;53(2):169-73.

Intracutaneous Injections of Sterile Water over the Secrum for Labour Analgesia

Kirti N Saxena  1 , Hitesh Nischal, S Batra
Affiliations

Intracutaneous Injections of Sterile Water over the Secrum for Labour Analgesia

Kirti N Saxena et al. Indian J Anaesth. 2009 Apr.

Abstract

During first stage of labour, many women suffer from lower back pain. Since cutaneous afferents from the lower back converge to the dorsal horns in the same segments there is anatomical support for the lower back pain being a referred pain. Intracutaneous injections of sterile water in the skin over the sacrum have been shown to relieve the pain of labour and it is free from negative side effects associated with use of other methods. The study was conducted after approval of institutional ethical committee on 100 pregnant patients admitted to the labour room of Lok Nayak hospital, New Delhi. Patients received 4 intracutaneous injections of sterile water or normal saline 0.5ml in the lumbo-sacral region. Pain scores, progress of labour and fetal outcome were studied. There was significant reduction of pain scores in the sterile water group but not in the normal saline group at 10, 45 and 90 minutes after injection. There was no difference in the progress of labour and fetal outcome between the two groups. To conclude intracutoneous sterile water injections over the sacrum is a simple and effective method to control pain during labour.

Keywords: Labour analgesia; Sterile water injections.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
The Michaelis' rhomboid and points for injection (From: Martensson L, Wallin. G. Labour pain treated with cutaneous injections of sterile water: a randomized controlled trial. Br J Obstet Gynaecol,1999;106: 633-637).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Physicians assessment of pain at different times after giving the sterile water injections
Figure 3
Figure 3
Physicians assessment of pain at different times after giving the normal saline injections
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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