LABOR ANALGESIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INTRAVENOUS PARACETAMOL VERSUS INTRAMUSCULAR TRAMADOL IN ITS SAFETY AND EFFICACY.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous paracetamol (1000mg) and intramuscular tramadol (100mg) as labor analgesic. Methods: A prospective randomized study was conducted on 120 women in active labor at NIMS Hospital, Jaipur, between January and September 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received intravenous paracetamol, and Group B received intramuscular tramadol. Labor progression, pain intensity (according to McGills scale), perinatal outcomes, and maternal side effects were monitored. Results: Paracetamol was found to be more effective in pain relief than tramadol. After 1 and 3 hours, paracetamol demonstrated superior pain relief. After 3 hours, 70% cases of Group A had significant pain relief as compared to 40% cases of Group B. The total duration of labor from the active phase of first stage of labor was 4.55 hours in Group A and 6.46 hours in Group B. Both drugs showed no significant difference in neonatal outcomes. Nausea and vomiting were the primary maternal adverse effects, with tramadol displaying a slightly higher incidence, though the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In conclusion, intravenous paracetamol is a more effective and safer labor analgesic compared to intramuscular tramadol. It offers superior pain relief, shortens the duration of labor, and has fewer maternal side effects. These findings suggest that intravenous paracetamol can be a valuable option for labor analgesia in low-resource healthcare settings in developing countries, contributing to a more positive childbirth experience for mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]