Nitrous Oxyde During Labour

NCT ID: NCT06595303

Last Updated: 2025-05-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 70 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-11-05
• Study Completion Date: 2025-05-20

Brief Summary

1. Background to the clinical research project Nitrous oxide is a valuable tool in medicine for its rapid and effective analgesic and sedative properties. It is used in 50% gaseous form for painful procedures. One frequent application is obstetric analgesia. However, in addition to its analgesic effects, many articles mention the psychotropic, even psychedelic, effects of nitrous oxide use. In one of the most recent studies, entitled More than just joy: A qualitative analysis of participant experiences during nitrous oxide sedation, involving healthy volunteers, it is reported that the sensations and feelings of the subjects are not necessarily pleasant, and many volunteers report psychedelic-like sensations, dreams or disturbed perceptions. The authors then question whether these effects are due to an absence of painful stimuli and therefore an absence of a beneficial effect. The same effects have been reported by Atkinson et al, also on volunteer subjects. Parturients feelings are highly variable, with a stronger focus on analgesic efficacy.

2. Objectives of the clinical research project 2.1 Primary objective: The main objective will be to evaluate the effects of nitrous oxide, other than analgesia, in the specific context of childbirth. The study will focus mainly on subjective feelings, as well as the effects of disconnection from reality.

2.2 Secondary objectives: As secondary objectives, we will study the efficacy on pain.

3. Methodology of the clinical research project All patients who have received nitrous oxide for delivery as part of the standard course of treatment in the delivery room will be contacted within 24 hours by one of the investigators. The protocol, i.e. the questionnaire, will be explained to the patients and, if they accept the protocol, written consent will be obtained. Patients will then complete the questionnaire in the presence of one of the investigators, who will be able to explain the questions if necessary. The questionnaire will take around 20 minutes to complete.

4. Design of the clinical research project Prospective study based on a questionnaire.

5. Participants Any person who received nitrous oxide for childbirth at Hôpital Érasme between October 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025 and who signed the informed consent form for this study.

Conditions

Nitrous Oxide; Labour Analgesia

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

N2O for labour analgesia

Any woman who received nitrous oxide for childbirth at Hôpital Érasme between October 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025 and who signed the informed consent form for this study.

Nitrous oxide for labour analgesia

Intervention Type: DRUG

Any woman may choose to have nitrous oxide inhalation as a standard protocol for labour analgesia

Interventions

Nitrous oxide for labour analgesia

Any woman may choose to have nitrous oxide inhalation as a standard protocol for labour analgesia

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Any person who received nitrous oxide for childbirth at Hôpital Érasme between October 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025 and who signed the informed consent form for this study.

Exclusion Criteria

• No informed consent

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Erasme University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

H.U.B - Hôpital Erasme

Brussels, , Belgium

Countries

Belgium

References

Carles G. [Pregnancy, delivery and customs: transcultural approach in obstetrics]. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 2014 Apr;43(4):275-80. doi: 10.1016/j.jgyn.2013.12.002. Epub 2014 Jan 17. French.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 24440128 (View on PubMed)

Waldenstrom U, Hildingsson I, Rubertsson C, Radestad I. A negative birth experience: prevalence and risk factors in a national sample. Birth. 2004 Mar;31(1):17-27. doi: 10.1111/j.0730-7659.2004.0270.x.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 15015989 (View on PubMed)

Richardson MG, Raymond BL, Baysinger CL, Kook BT, Chestnut DH. A qualitative analysis of parturients' experiences using nitrous oxide for labor analgesia: It is not just about pain relief. Birth. 2019 Mar;46(1):97-104. doi: 10.1111/birt.12374. Epub 2018 Jul 22.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 30033596 (View on PubMed)

Valtonen P, Markkanen S, Jarventausta K, Tenhunen M, Kalliomaki ML. More than just joy: A qualitative analysis of participant experiences during nitrous oxide sedation. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2024 Aug;68(7):906-912. doi: 10.1111/aas.14428. Epub 2024 Apr 9.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 38594960 (View on PubMed)

Atkinson RM, Green JD, Chenoweth DE, Atkinson JH. Subjective effects of nitrous oxide: cognitive, emotional, perceptual and transcendental experiences. J Psychedelic Drugs. 1979 Oct-Dec;11(4):317-30. doi: 10.1080/02791072.1979.10471415. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 522172 (View on PubMed)

Block RI, Ghoneim MM, Kumar V, Pathak D. Psychedelic effects of a subanesthetic concentration of nitrous oxide. Anesth Prog. 1990 Nov-Dec;37(6):271-6.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 2097905 (View on PubMed)

Migliaccio L, Lawton R, Leeman L, Holbrook A. Initiating Intrapartum Nitrous Oxide in an Academic Hospital: Considerations and Challenges. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2017 May;62(3):358-362. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.12635. Epub 2017 May 29.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 28556573 (View on PubMed)

Moon JS, Kuza CM, Desai MS. William James, Nitrous Oxide, and the Anaesthetic Revelation. J Anesth Hist. 2018 Jan;4(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.janh.2017.10.012. Epub 2017 Dec 1.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 29559088 (View on PubMed)

Kronenberg G, Seifritz E, Olbrich S. Nitrous oxide inhalation: History and experiences. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2024 Sep;68(8):1129. doi: 10.1111/aas.14462. Epub 2024 May 30. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 38815989 (View on PubMed)

Husum B, Stenqvist O, Alahuhta S, Sigurdsson GH, Dale O. Current use of nitrous oxide in public hospitals in Scandinavian countries. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2013 Oct;57(9):1131-7. doi: 10.1111/aas.12165. Epub 2013 Jul 29.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 23889322 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

SRB2024218

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id