Nitrous oxide as labor analgesia: clinical implications for nurses.

@article{Stewart2012NitrousOA,
  title={Nitrous oxide as labor analgesia: clinical implications for nurses.},
  author={Lucinda Steen Stewart and Michelle R. Collins},
  journal={Nursing for women's health},
  year={2012},
  volume={16 5},
  pages={
          398-408; quiz 409
        }
}
A new interest in self-administered nitrous oxide for labor analgesia has emerged in recent years in the United States. It has been used widely in Europe for decades, with favorable results. The American College of Nurse-Midwives published a position statement in 2010 supporting the practice of self-administered nitrous oxide as an additional analgesia choice for laboring women. Recent literature on this subject has been directed toward midwives, obstetricians and/or anesthesiologists, with… 
View on PubMed
doi.org
21 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
2
Background Citations
8

Figures from this paper

21 Citations

Nitrous Oxide for the Management of Labor Analgesia.
TLDR
Inhaled nitrous oxide is used in the labor process for analgesia as well as for anxiolysis in many countries but is rarely offered in the United States.
Initiating Intrapartum Nitrous Oxide in an Academic Hospital: Considerations and Challenges Symbol
TLDR
The challenges that occurred during the process of initiating nitrous oxide for pain management during childbirth at an academic medical center are described and various committee roles are discussed.
Nitrous Oxide Utility in Labor and Birth: A Multipurpose Modality
  • M. Collins
  • Medicine
    The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing
  • 2017
TLDR
A comparison of obstetrical use to use in the dental industry, examines the contraindications to, and implications for usage, and discusses logistical points of consideration for clinicians working with women using N2O for labor and birth are explored.
A Nurse-Directed Model for Nitrous Oxide Use During Labor
TLDR
This quality improvement project involved development and implementation of a nurse-driven, self-administered, demand-flow nitrous oxide program as an option for pain relief for laboring women in a rural community hospital.
The Benefits of Introducing the Use of Nitrous Oxide in the Pediatric Emergency Department for Painful Procedures
Is Your Pregnant Client a Candidate for “Laughing Gas” in Labor?
Non-Neuraxial Labor Analgesia: Options
TLDR
In addition to nonpharmacologic alternatives, inhaled nitrous oxide and systemic opioids represent two broad classes of non-neuraxial pharmacologic labor analgesia most commonly available and are summarized in this review.
A Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practices on Nitrous Oxide as Labour Analgesia among Nurses in Labour and Delivery Units
TLDR
The “laughing gas” or “happy gas’ used now is called N2OO2 and contains at least 30% oxygen .
Pain Management in Obstetrics.
Association of Self-Administered Nitrous Oxide for Labor Analgesia With Maternal and Neonatal Process and Outcome Measures.
...
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 18 REFERENCES
Nitrous oxide for relief of labor pain: a systematic review.
  • M. Rosen
  • Medicine
    American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
  • 2002
Anesthesia and analgesia for labor
TLDR
Recent studies of epidural analgesia are reviewed, including the increased use of epidurally opioids, patient-controlled epidural morphine, and the complications of spinal analgesia (including effects on gastric emptying, maternal temperature control, and hemodynamic changes to the mother and fetus).
Safety and risks of nitrous oxide labor analgesia: a review.
  • J. Rooks
  • Medicine
    Journal of midwifery & women's health
  • 2011
TLDR
Nitrous oxide labor analgesia is simple to administer, does not interfere with the release and function of endogenous oxytocin, and has no adverse effects on the normal physiology and progress of labor.
[Clinical study on efficacy and safety of labor analgesia with inhalation of nitrous oxide in oxygen].
TLDR
Inhalation of 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen was safe and effective labor analgesia and the measure of relieving labor pain may increase the vaginal birth rate.
From forgotten to mainstream: how a nurse-midwife's commitment to nitrous oxide changed practice.
  • T. King
  • Medicine
    Journal of midwifery & women's health
  • 2011
What does it take to get an established and effective but forgotten tool back into obstetric practice? In the case of nitrous oxide, it took a nurse-midwife. Nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas,…
The Management of Breakthrough Pain During Labour
TLDR
This article proposes an aggressive response to epidural breakthrough pain using appropriate drug supplementation and, if necessary, the placement of a new epidural catheter.
Epidural versus non-epidural or no analgesia in labour.
TLDR
Epidural analgesia appears to be effective in reducing pain during labour, however, women who use this form of pain relief are at increased risk of having an instrumental delivery and further research may be helpful to evaluate rare but potentially severe adverse effects of epidural analgesIA on women in labour and long-term neonatal outcomes.
Nitrous oxide use in the intrapartum/immediate postpartum period (labor and delivery, trans.) (pp. 1–10)
  • 2011
Alternatives to neuraxial analgesia for labor
TLDR
Paracervical block with modern technique is a viable option for selected cases, but its efficacy is only modest and nitrous oxide is a useful method to be used alone or together with the other methods.
Nitrous oxide for pain in labor--why not in the United States?
...
...