• Mari Kinnunen, Hannu Kokki, Heidi Hautajärvi, Kaisa Tuovinen, and Merja Kokki.
• School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
• Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2020 May 1; 64 (5): 685-690.

BackgroundParenteral opioids are used for pain relief in labour but there are little data for oxycodone in this context. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, foetal exposure and safety of subcutaneous oxycodone in the latent phase of labour.MethodsThis pragmatic trial included 76 parturients, who received subcutaneous oxycodone for pain relief in the latent phase of labour according to the hospital protocol: an initial dose 0.1 mg/kg, and a second dose, 0.05 mg/kg, could be administered four hours later. Pain intensity and pain relief were assessed using a numerical rating scale of 0-10. After delivery, blood samples from the maternal and umbilical veins were collected, and plasma concentrations of oxycodone and its main metabolites were quantified using UPLC-MS/MS. The Apgar scores and maternal and neonatal adverse effects were recorded.ResultsThe foetal exposure at birth was low, the median oxycodone and oxymorphone umbilical vein plasma concentrations were 1.2 ng/mL (range 0.21-7.8) and 0.14 ng/mL (0-0.26), respectively. Pain scores decreased substantially, from a median pain score of 7/10 before oxycodone to median scores of 5/10 at 30 minutes after administration, 5/10 at 60 minutes and 6/10 at 120 minutes. The median Apgar score was 9 (range 2-10) at 1 minute and 9 (6-10) at 5 minutes. Maternal adverse effects were mild, and there were no oxycodone-related neonatal adverse effects.ConclusionSubcutaneous oxycodone provided effective analgesia during the latent phase of labour. Newborn exposure at birth was low, and oxycodone was well-tolerated.© 2020 The Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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