Single epidural bolus hydromorphone for acute postpartum pain after vaginal delivery: a randomized clinical trial.

ABSTRACT: Postpartum pain significantly affects maternal recovery and overall health, underscoring the need for effective analgesic strategies. In this randomized controlled trial, 460 term parturients who underwent vaginal delivery were assigned to receive either a single epidural bolus of hydromorphone (HY group, n = 230) or an equivalent volume of normal saline (NS group, n = 230). Within 48 h postpartum, pain scores were significantly lower in the HY group than in the NS group (p < 0.001), with a greater proportion of women achieving pain scores ≤ 3 (76.47% vs. 27.93%; OR = 8.39, 97.5% CI 5.15-13.67). The HY group required fewer supplemental analgesics (6.79% vs. 24.77%; OR = 0.22, 97.5% CI 0.11-0.44), and the time to first rescue analgesia was prolonged (15.63 ± 5.98 vs. 12.01 ± 5.01 h). Althou

SUBMITTER: Lu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12583475 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature