Ketamine and diazepam as anaesthesia for forceps delivery. A comparative study.

In a clinically controlled trial in forceps delivery, a comparison was made between the general anaesthesia induced by ketamine and that by a combination of diazepam and N2O. Local anaesthesia was added in the diazepam group for episiotomy and suturation. The indication for operative delivery was in all cases a prolonged second stage of labour. In the katamine group, awareness was noted in four cases out of 13, even if the analgesic effect was found to be good. Four patients showed marked, short-lasting elevation of blood pressure and seven had unpleasant dreams. All thirteen mothers in the diazepam group found the anesthesia effective and the recovery pleasant. The blood pressure was stable. One mother in each group required ventilation with oxygen due to respiratory depression of short duration. Three of the children in the ketamine group and two in the diazepam group had subnormal Apgar score with slight acidosis. This was probably not attributable to the anaesthesia.