Open AccessDiazepam (Valium®) as an Anaesthetic for Operative Vaginal Delivery
Author(s) -
Sagen Norvald,
Haram Kjell
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016347309158304
Subject(s) - medicine , diazepam , anesthesia , premedication , vinyl ether , vaginal delivery , vomiting , surgery , pregnancy , chemistry , organic chemistry , biology , copolymer , genetics , polymer
In a clinical controlled trial the use of vinyl‐ether‐ether‐N 2 O (53 cases) and diazepam‐N 2 O (48 cases) as general anaesthetic for operative vaginal delivery is compared. Local anaesthetic for episiotomy was applied in both methods to enhance analgesia. In the diazepam group there were no maternal complications while in the vinyl‐ether‐ether‐group there were 14 cases of vomiting, of which 2 led to aspiration with development of Mendelsohn's syndrome. A third case in the same group also had an aspiration without evident sequelae. The time from start of anaesthetic induction till complete delivery of the baby was on average 6 min 17 sec in the vinyl‐ether‐ether group compared with 2 min 21 sec in the diazepam group, which means an average reduction of about 4 min. Diazepam anaesthesia is simple to administer, effective, allows rapid delivery and is comfortable and safe for the mother. This form of anaesthesia made the obstetrician's task easier during delivery. It also appears to be a safe method for the newborn, judged by the Apgar scoring system.