Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2026.65.01.05

Effects of Pethidine Use During Childbirth on Newborns – a Single-Center Retrospective Study

Ante Čuljak ; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vajdana Tomić ; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Faculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ivica Brizić ; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ivan Merdžo orcid.org/0000-0001-5292-828X ; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

In low-income countries, epidural analgesia is not always available during childbirth.
Common alternatives include parenteral application of certain opioids
such as pethidine. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pethidine
use during childbirth on vital parameters of the neonates and compare
the Apgar scores of the neonates whose mothers received pethidine during
labor with those whose mothers did not receive it. This retrospective study included
116 neonates from Mostar University Clinical Hospital. A total of 58 of
those neonates’ mothers received pethidine during labor. The women included
in this study were most often primiparous (75.9%). Most of them did not have
an induced delivery (68.1%) and in half of the mothers, pethidine was used in labor.
Female and male neonates were almost equally represented in the sample.
The results of the study indicate that pethidine did not affect the investigated
variables including the Apgar score, laboratory results (bilirubin and CRP) and
transfer to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A correlation between the
use of pethidine, the number of previous births and the mothers’ age was not
established. According to our results, the correct application of pethidine (50
mg IV) did not cause any significant adverse effects on the newborns. Nevertheless,
the use of pethidine during childbirth should be carefully considered, as
the toxicity of its intermediate norpethidine is not fully known.

Keywords

Pethidine; Labor analgesia; Neonates

Hrčak ID:

345829

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/345829

Publication date:

27.3.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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