CClinicalTrials.gg
Sign In
CompletedNCT06595303Updated May 21, 2025

Nitrous Oxyde During Labour

An observational study in Nitrous Oxide and Labour Analgesia, sponsored by Erasme University Hospital. Completed at 1 site in Belgium. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-05-21.

Sponsored by Erasme University Hospital · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
70
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study 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.
02

Conditions studied

  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Labour Analgesia

Keywords

  • Nitrous oxide
  • labour analgesia
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Erasme University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 178 studies on the registry; 34 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

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

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

Exclusion Criteria:

  • No informed consent
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
70 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • 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.

    Drug: Nitrous oxide for labour analgesia

Interventions

  • DrugNitrous oxide for labour analgesia

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

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Unpleasant psychotropic effects

    Percentage (%) of patients who report an unpleasant psychotropic effect during nitrous oxide administration for labour analgesia.

    Time frame: 12 hours

Secondary outcomes

  1. Analgesic effect

    All patients will report the analgesic efficiency of nitrous oxide during labour analgesia using a 3 point scale (very effective - somewhat effective - no effect). Percentage (%) of each effect will be presented.

    Time frame: 12 hours

07

Study locations

1 site
  • H.U.B - Hôpital Erasme
    Brussels, 1070, Belgium
08

References and documents

Publications

  • 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. PubMed 24440128 ↗
  • 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. PubMed 15015989 ↗
  • 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. PubMed 30033596 ↗
  • 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. PubMed 38594960 ↗
  • 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. PubMed 522172 ↗
  • 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. PubMed 2097905 ↗
  • 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. PubMed 28556573 ↗
  • 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. PubMed 29559088 ↗
  • 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. PubMed 38815989 ↗
  • 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. PubMed 23889322 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 21, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06595303
Lead sponsor
Erasme University Hospital
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 19, 2024
Start date
Nov 5, 2024
Primary completion
May 15, 2025
Completion
May 20, 2025
Last update
May 21, 2025

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in May 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Other studies from this sponsor

Erasme University Hospital

Start the discussion