Fleet, J.Sok, C.Randall, E.R.Cyna, A.M.2025-12-182025-12-182021International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia, 2021; 45:138-1410959-289X1532-3374https://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/145456Background: In 2017, a South Australia Perinatal Practice Guideline was introduced state-wide for the use of subcutaneous fentanyl for labour analgesia as a replacement for intramuscular pethidine. We retrospectively reviewed the implementation of this practice change in our institution. Methods: A retrospective review of maternal and neonatal case notes for the first 100 women administered subcutaneous fentanyl in labour at a single tertiary referral centre for maternity care, between February and June 2017. Results: Of the 102 women administered subcutaneous fentanyl, the majority (55%) were primipara, with an average maternal age of 29 years and body mass index of 27 kg/m2. The median total fentanyl dose administered was 200 µg and the average time from last dose to birth was 3 h. The majority of women (70%) did not require additional rescue labour analgesia and 80% had a spontaneous vaginal birth. All neonates had a 5-min Apgar score >7. The median Apgar score at 1 and 5 min was 9. No neonate had an arterial cord blood pH <7.1. The mean arterial and venous cord blood pH was 7.3. The average time for neonates to establish breathing was 1 min and the median postnatal length of stay was two days. Conclusions: Subcutaneous fentanyl for labour analgesia appears effective and has a low incidence of adverse events.enCopyright 2020 Elsevier Access Condition Notes: Accepted manuscript available after 1 October 2022fentanyllabour analgesiasubcutaneousJournal article10.1016/j.ijoa.2020.10.0092-s2.0-85096188197Fleet, J. [0000-0001-6228-5636]Cyna, A.M. [0000-0002-3138-1091]