Low dose fentanyl improves continuous bupivacaine epidural analgesia following orthopaedic, urological or general surgery

This retrospective study assessed the clinical efficacy of the addition of low concentrations of fentanyl to bupivacaine 0.125% when infused epidurally for postoperative analgesia. Three patient groups received bupivacaine 0.125% alone (n=70), bupivacaine 0.125% with 1 μg/ml fentanyl (n=100), and bupivacaine 0.125% with 2 μg/ml fentanyl (n=70). The percentage of patients with adequate analgesia (pain score ≤3) was higher in both fentanyl groups compared to the plain bupivacaine group on each of the three study days (p<0.05). Those receiving plain bupivacaine had a greater incidence of patchy or unilateral blocks compared to both fentanyl groups (p<0.05). The higher dose of fentanyl was associated with a greatly increased length of stable analgesia (p<0.01). Patient satisfaction scores were highest in the 2 μg/ml fentanyl group and lowest in the plain bupivacaine group, with significant differences between all groups (p<0.01). The incidence of nausea was significantly greater in the plain bupivacaine group compared to both fentanyl groups (p<0.001); other side effects were similar between the groups. We conclude that the addition of fentanyl 1–2 μg/ml to bupivacaine 0.125% for continuous epidural infusion significantly improved all indicators of analgesic quality, without an attendant increase in side effects in a routine clinical setting and is therefore to be recommended.     

Addition of ketamine to propofol–fentanyl anaesthesia can reduce post-operative pain and epidural analgesic consumption in upper abdominal surgery

The aim of this study was to confirm whether intravenous anaesthesia supplemented with the N-methyl- -aspartate (NMDA) antagonist ketamine could reduce post-operative pain after elective open cholecystectomy. Fifty patients were randomised double-blind to one of the following two groups: PF Group received propofol and fentanyl supplemented with saline infusion; PFK Group received propofol and fentanyl supplemented with ketamine (total dose 2 mg/kg). During the first 48 post-operative hours, epidural analgesia was provided for all patients with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using 0.125% bupivacaine and morphine (0.05 mg/ml). Pain assessments at rest and movement, and cumulative PCEA volume consumed, were recorded at 5, 24 and 48 h post-operatively. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at rest were significantly less in the PFK Group than in the PF Group at 5, 24 and 48 h (P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.02, respectively). The VAS score at movement were also significantly (P<0.001) less throughout this study than in the PF Group. The difference in PCEA analgesic consumption at 0–5 and 5–24 h reached statistical significance (P<0.001 and P=0.008, respectively). Our results show that an intra-operative ketamine dose provides advantages for post-operative analgesia beyond its duration of action after an open cholecystectomy.     

Preemptive analgesia with epidural bupivacaine plus fentanyl in gynaecological surgery—effects on serum interleukin-6 concentrations

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate preemptive analgesia and its influence on interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.Methods: Thirty patients scheduled for hysterectomy were randomised in two groups to receive 13 ml bupivacaine 0.25% plus fentanyl (100 μg) before incision and 15 ml of saline after incision (group I, GI), or 15 ml of saline before incision and 13 ml bupivacaine 0.25% plus fentanyl (100 μg) after incision (group II, GII). General anaesthesia was performed using propofol/pancuronium/O₂/isoflurane. Postoperative analgesia consisted of epidural bolus doses of 4 ml bupivacaine 0.25% plus fentanyl (50 μg) or dipyrone i.v. on demand. Pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). IL-6 levels were quantified during the study.Results: Patients in group I had significantly less pain only at arrival in recovery room. The requirements for rescue analgesia were similar in both groups and there were no significant differences in IL-6 concentrations.Conclusions: This study showed no preemptive effect of epidural fentanyl plus bupivacaine on postoperative pain and stress response as measured by IL-6 concentrations.     

Intrathecal fentanyl and sufentanil added to bupivacaine augments analgesia after surgical repair of hip fracture

The aim of our study was to assess efficacy and safety of intrathecal fentanyl and sufentanil added to bupivacaine for surgical repair of fractured hip in patients over 60 years. After standard premedication group C was administered bupivacaine 0.5% 3 ml+saline 1 ml, group F bupivacaine 0.5% 3 ml+fentanyl 50 μg/1 ml and group S bupivacaine 0.5% 3 ml+sufentanil 5 μg/l ml. Time to request for analgesia and side-effects were recorded. Duration of analgesia was longer in both opioid groups compared to control (5.4 h, P<0.001), and longer in S (9.5 h) than in F (8.1 h, P<0.05). There were no differences in bradycardia, hypotension, peripheral oxygen saturation below 90% and pruritus among groups. Postoperative nausea and vomiting were higher in F compared to C and S (P<0.05). Intrathecal fentanyl and sufentanil in our study significantly prolonged time to first request for analgesia and were safe to use even in old patients. Sufentanil appears to be more convenient because of longer analgesia and less postoperative nausea and vomiting.     

Haemodynamic, endocrine and nociceptive response to gynaecological procedures under epidural local anaesthesia during continuous epidural infusion or bolus epidural fentanyl dosing

This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic effects and hormonal responses of a single epidural bolus compared to continuous epidural infusion of fentanyl as supplements to intraoperative local epidural anaesthesia for major gynaecological surgery. Forty patients undergoing total vaginal hysterectomy were randomised to receive in a double blind fashion either 1.5 μg kg⁻¹ fentanyl epidurally (group A) or saline (group B) as bolus injections followed by epidural infusion of saline or fentanyl (0.7 μg kg⁻¹h⁻¹) respectively at a rate of 10 ml h⁻¹. Postoperative pain intensity was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). Prolactin and cortisol plasma levels were used as stress markers. The onset of anaesthesia was significantly shorter in group A (p<0.05) but the duration of T₁₀ blockade was significantly longer in group B (p<0.01). Pain intensity was significantly higher in group A at 90, 105 and 120 minutes after skin incision (p<0.001). There was no intraoperative difference in heart rate or mean arterial pressure between the two groups nor was there any difference in the incidence of adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting or shivering. Both groups had a progressive decrease in serum cortisol and prolactin concentrations 30 and 60 min after skin incision, but cortisol and prolactin concentrations were higher in group A (p<0.05) 120 minutes after skin incision.Our observations suggest that perioperative continuous epidural infusion of fentanyl begun intraoperatively attenuates the endocrine stress response, but a bolus dose of fentanyl given along with bupivacaine lacks this protective effect. A possible explanation for these findings is that an infusion begun intraoperatively, just after administration of epidural bupivacaine, prolongs the duration of sensory blockade and provides a better quality of analgesia, and thereby attenuates the endocrine response triggered by regression of the intraoperative level of anaesthesia.     

Chronic epidural bupivacaine-opioid infusion in intractable cancer pain.

This study examined the efficacy and toxicity associated with chronic epidural opioid-bupivacaine infusions. In a series of 68 patients with cancer pain refractory to epidural opioids alone, analgesia was effectively regained by infusing a opioid-bupivacaine combination. Sixty-one patients (90%) were considered treatment successes, according to conventional criteria. Median length of therapy was 60-120 days, with the longest infusion lasting 277 days. Chronic bupivacaine infusion concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 0.5% with infusion rates varying from 4 to 18 ml/h. The majority of patients experienced pain relief with little or no sympathetic or sensorimotor impairment after the first 24 h at bupivacaine concentrations of 0.125-0.25% and were managed in home or chronic care settings without the need for re-hospitalization. In patients receiving higher bupivacaine concentrations, sympathetic, sensory and motor blockade were well tolerated during chronic infusion. Sensory loss was consistently observed only at bupivacaine concentrations exceeding 0.25%, and motor impairment occurred only at concentrations exceeding 0.35%. Postural hypotension was observed in 6 patients (9%) for the first 24 h only, which supports the requirement for monitoring and fluid therapy during initiation of the bupivacaine infusion. No patient experienced CNS or systemic toxicity, despite plasma total bupivacaine concentrations as high as 10.8 micrograms/ml. Serial plasma bupivacaine levels were measured in 15 patients during chronic infusion. There was considerable inter- and intra-individual variability in plasma bupivacaine concentrations and bupivacaine clearance. We conclude that epidural opioid-bupivacaine infusion is an effective and safe technique for long-term administration of analgesics in the refractory cancer patient.     

Epidural analgesia in surgical treatment of scoliosis

The article provides data on the use of a two-level epidural analgesia as a component of general anesthesia and postoperative analgesia in surgical treatment of scoliosis on the front and back structures of the spine. The study included 150 patients aged from 12 to 25 years. All the patients were divided into 4 groups. The patients of the 2-nd and 3-rd groups before the main stage was carried out an epidural analgesia with 0.75% ropivacaine and sevorane-propofol general anaesthesia . In the 1-st and 4-th group carried out an propofol-fentanyl TIVA or inhalational sevorane-fentanyl one. The best result were obtained in the 3-rd group, where they carried out the infusion 0.2% ropivacaine with fentanyl (1 microg/ml) and epinephrine (2 microg/ml) via 2 epidural catheters. It was noted decreased blood loss by more than 50% in groups with epidural analgesia.     

Combined spinal-epidural analgesia vs. intermittent bolus epidural analgesia for pain relief after major abdominal surgery. A prospective, randomised, double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of combined spinal-epidural (CSE) analgesia vs. intermittent bolus epidural analgesia (EA) for pain relief after major abdominal surgery. The secondary aim was to assess the effects of fentanyl addition to subarachnoid morphine and bupivacaine. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomised, double-blind trial; 160 patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery enrolled. All patients had a thoracic epidural catheter for administration of intra-operative and postoperative analgesia. Patients were assigned to one of four groups: (i) subarachnoid morphine, bupivacaine and fentanyl (MBF group); (ii) morphine and bupivacaine (MB group); (iii) morphine (M group) and (iv) normal saline (EA group). Use of additional intravenous (i.v.) fentanyl and epidural bupivacaine was recorded to measure the need for supplemental intra-operative analgesia. Pain at rest, with movement, and with cough (measured with a visual analogue scale), additional analgesia requests, and side effects were recorded over 72 h postoperatively. RESULTS: Compared with the EA group, the MBF group had significantly reduced pain with cough and lower analgesia requirements during the first 24 h (p<0.001) and after EA discontinuation (p=0.041). The MBF group required less intra-operative epidural bupivacaine compared with all other groups (p<0.001), and less intra-operative i.v. fentanyl compared with group M (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combined spinal-epidural improved intra-operative analgesia and reduced pain with cough in the immediate postoperative period. The addition of fentanyl to subarachnoid morphine and bupivacaine decreased the need for additional i.v. fentanyl and epidural bupivacaine analgesia.     

Efficacy of various epidural analgesia regimens after lung surgery

A prospective study included 90 adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery. After placing an epidural catheter at the Th4-Th5 level, all the patients were randomized in 3 groups. Twenty-nine patients received controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with fentanyl, 2 microg/ml, in 0.2% bupivacaine solution (Group 1). In other groups, these analgesics were given either as bolus infections (Group 2; n = 30) or as a continuous epidural infusion of fentanyl, 2 microg/ml, in 0.2% bupivacane solution (Group 3; n = 27). Pain scores and the incidence of adverse effects were assessed within the first 24 hours after surgery. The data were compared using the Student's t-test and x2 test with Bonferroni correction; p < 0.017 was regarded as statistically significant. The VAS scores in coating were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3. The need for epidural opioids for adequate analgesia within the first 24 hours after surgery was significantly less in Group 1 than in Groups 2 and 3. There were no excessive sedation episodes in all the groups. In Group 2, the incidence of nausea was 20%. These adverse reactions were not found during PCEA and continuous infusion (p < 0.017). Opioid-induced pruritis was mostly (23%) observed in Group 2. Thoracic PCEA with fentanyl-bupivacaine solution provided adequate postoperative analgesia after thoracotomy and reduced the need for opioids. In addition, PCEA reduced the incidence of adverse reactions of opioids.     

'Balanced analgesia' in the perioperative period: is there a place for ketamine?

We investigated whether intraoperative 'subanesthetic doses' of ketamine have a postoperative anti-hyperalgesic and an analgesic effect and which is the preferential route of administration, either systemic (intravenous, i.v.) or epidural. One hundred patients scheduled for rectal adenocarcinoma surgery under combined epidural/general anesthesia were included. Before skin incision all the patients received an epidural bolus followed by an infusion of continuous bupivacaine/sufentanil/clonidine mixture. They were randomly assigned to receive no ketamine (group 1), i.v. ketamine at the bolus dose of 0.25 mg/kg followed by an infusion of 0.125 mg/kg per h (group 2), 0.5 mg/kg and 0.25 mg/kg per h (group 3), epidural ketamine 0.25 mg/kg and 0.125 mg/kg per h (group 4), or 0.5 mg/kg and 0.25 mg/kg per h (group 5). All i.v. and epidural analgesics were stopped at the end of surgery and patients were connected to an i.v. morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device. Short-term postoperative analgesia (72 h) was assessed by pain visual analog scale scores at rest, cough, and movements as well as by PCA requirements. Wound mechanical hyperalgesia was evaluated and residual pain was assessed by asking the patients at 2 weeks, and 1, 6, and 12 months. The area of hyperalgesia and morphine PCA requirements were significantly reduced in group 3. These patients reported significantly less residual pain until the sixth postoperative month. These observations support the theory that subanesthetic doses of i.v. ketamine (0.5 mg/kg bolus followed by 0.25 mg/kg per h) given during anesthesia reduce wound hyperalgesia and are a useful adjuvant in perioperative balanced analgesia. Moreover, they show that the systemic route clearly is the preferential route.     

The sparing effect of low-dose esmolol on sevoflurane during laparoscopic gynaecological surgery

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the sparing effect of esmolol on sevoflurane during laparoscopic gynaecological surgery in 54 patients between December 2009 and May 2010. The concentration of sevoflurane required to maintain adequate anaesthesia was determined. Patients received either a 0.5 mg/kg esmolol intravenous loading dose followed by infusion of 30 μg/kg per min or an identical volume of normal saline (placebo). During surgery the input concentration of sevoflurane was adjusted every 5 min to maintain systolic blood pressure within 15% of baseline and bispectral index at 50 - 60. Infusion of esmolol resulted in an 18.2% decrease in mean sevoflurane input concentration. Patients receiving esmolol had an earlier discharge from the postanaesthetic care unit and a lower mean fentanyl dose. In conclusion, intraoperative esmolol infusion decreased both the requirement for sevoflurane and postoperative administration of fentanyl.     

Randomised,cross-over comparison of sevoflurane and ketamine-midazolam anaesthesia in children undergoing extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy

Introduction The aim of this study was to assess the haemodynamic responses, adverse events and recovery characteristics associated with sevoflurane and ketamine-midazolam anaesthesia for paediatric extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. Methods Twenty children aged 2–11 years, who were undergoing two consecutive lithotripsy sessions at an interval of 4 weeks were enrolled and randomised to receive either inhalation or dissociative anaesthesia at their first session. The alternative anaesthesia protocol was used at their second session. Inhalation anaesthesia was induced with 8% sevoflurane and 70% N₂O in oxygen; 10 μg/kg atropine and 2 μg/kg fentanyl were then administered. Anaesthesia was maintained with 2%–3% end-tidal sevoflurane and 70% N₂O in oxygen via a laryngeal mask airway. Dissociative anaesthesia was induced intravenously with 10 μg/kg atropine, 0.05 mg/kg midazolam, 1.5 mg/kg ketamine and maintained with 0.5–1.0 mg/kg ketamine. Haemodynamic parameters were recorded before and after induction, after the start of the procedure, and every 10 minutes thereafter. Postoperatively, the times to responding to command, sitting, ambulating, achieving an Aldrete score ≥9, and achieving a post-anaesthetic discharge score ≥9 were recorded. Results Systolic and diastolic arterial pressures at all measurements throughout the procedure were higher with ketamine-midazolam than with sevoflurane (P<0.05). Heart rates were comparable between groups, except after induction and after start of the procedure in which they were higher with ketamine-midazolam (P<0.05). All recovery endpoints were achieved earlier with sevoflurane than with ketamine-midazolam (P<0.05). Nauseavomiting incidences were similar in both groups. Conclusion Sevoflurane and ketamine-midazolam both provided effective anaesthesia for paediatric lithotripsy. The recovery and discharge times were shorter after anaesthesia with sevoflurane compared with ketamine-midazolam in children undergoing lithotripsy.     

不同麻醉方法对单核细胞mCD14与TLR4表达的影响

目的：研究不同麻醉方法对外周血单核细胞mCD14与Toll样受体4（TLR4）表达的影响。方法：选择择期行结、直肠癌根治术患者,共24例,年龄18-65岁,性别不限;体质量指数（BMI）18-23kg/m^2;美国麻醉医师学会（ASA）Ⅰ-Ⅱ级。所有患者分为2组：单纯全麻组（GA组）和全麻复合硬膜外阻滞组（GA＋E组）,每组各12例。GA组以6μg/kg芬太尼、1.5-2.0mg/kg丙泊酚和0.6-0.8mg/kg罗库溴铵行全麻诱导,术中以七氟醚维持麻醉,呼气末浓度维持在1.0-1.3最低肺泡有效浓度（MAC）。GA＋E组患者入手术室后于T12-L1穿刺并放置硬膜外导管,全麻诱导方法和药物同GA组,气管插管后硬膜外分次给予1%利多卡因及0.2%丁卡因混合液共9-12mL,并维持呼气末七氟醚浓度在0.6-0.8MAC,术中每小时追加1%利多卡因及0.2%丁卡因混合液3-4mL。分别于手术前、手术开始（切皮）时、切皮后2h及术后24h采外周血测定单核细胞膜型CD14（mCD14）、Toll样受体4（Toll-like receptor4,TLR4）数值。结果：GA＋E组和GA组相比,患者各时间点单核细胞mCD14数值均无显著变化。GA组手术开始时单核细胞TLR4较术前显著下降（P〈0.05）,而GA＋E组各时间点单核细胞TLR4无显著变化。结论：硬膜外阻滞可能通过影响TLR4的表达平衡手术应激产生的免疫抑制。     

Epidural analgesia—experience of 5628 patients in a large teaching hospital derived through audit

A prospective audit of 5628 surgical patients was conducted to determine the success, failure and complication rates associated with postoperative epidural analgesia. The majority of patients received infusions of bupivacaine 0.1% with hydromorphone 20 μg/cm³. However, elderly and frail patients received plain bupivacaine 0.1% or bupivacaine 0.1% with fentanyl 2 μg/cm³. Postoperatively, epidural infusions were selected, adjusted or terminated as indicated. Termination of epidural analgesia was defined as either success, if the infusion was continued until there was no further need for epidural analgesia, or failure, if the infusion was discontinued prematurely due to problems with the catheter or treatment that could not be controlled through intervention. Twenty-two percent of patients had their epidural catheter removed prematurely due to either technical (catheter) or treatment (medication) problems that could not be resolved. Technical problems with the catheter caused 807 failures (14% of all patients). Almost 70% of the technical failures (N=554) were due to catheter dislodgement. Treatment problems resulted in 451 failures (8% of all patients). The majority of treatment failures were due to inadequate analgesia despite functioning catheters. This audit has proved useful in maintaining standards of care and in identifying problems with postoperative epidural therapy that still need improvement. It allows a balanced assessment of the value of this treatment in the setting of a large teaching hospital and is the largest reported series of postoperative epidural hydromorphone analgesia.     

舒芬太尼复合罗哌卡因用于开胸术后硬膜外镇痛的疗效

【目的】观察舒芬太尼或芬太尼复合罗哌卡因用于开胸手术后硬膜外自控镇痛（PCEA）的临床镇痛效果和安全性。【方法】ASAⅠ～Ⅱ级,全麻复合连续硬膜外阻滞麻醉行开胸手术病人70例,随机分为两组（n=35）,使用0．75μg／ml舒芬太尼（S组）或3μg／ml芬太尼（F组）复合0．125％罗哌卡因,术后行PCEA。镇痛泵设定持续背景剂量2mL／h、PCA每次0．5mL,锁定时间15min。观察病人术后镇痛效果,记录术后4h、8h、12h、24h、48h各时间点的疼痛评分（VAS）、镇静评分、PCA使用次数、不良反应和病人满意度。【结果】S组术后8h、24h和48hVAS评分明显低于F组（P〈0．05）;S组各时间点镇静评分均明显大于F组（P〈0．05）;S组PCA按压次数显著低于F组（P〈0．05）;S组病人对PCA的满意度明显高于F组（P〈0．05）。两组恶心、呕吐发生率低,呼吸抑制相比无明显差异。【结论】舒芬太尼复合罗哌卡因用于开胸手术后PCEA,镇痛安全有效,镇痛镇静效果优于芬太尼,不良反应程度较轻。     

Pharmacokinetic Profile and Efficacy of a Fentanyl Transdermal Delivery System for Acute Postoperative Pain after Intra-abdominal Gynecologic Surgery for Cancer

Purpose: This prospective, randomized, single‐blind study evaluated the efficacy and pharmacokinetic profile of a transdermal delivery system for fentanyl to provide relief of acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing intra‐abdominal gynecologic surgery for cancer. Methods: Forty female patients were randomized to either transdermal fentanyl 50 µg/hour (n = 20) or transdermal placebo (n = 20). Transdermal systems were placed 1 hour preoperatively and removed 25 hours later. Pain control was supplemented with a nonopioid drug, bupivacaine 0.125–0.25%, administered through an epidural catheter via patient‐controlled epidural analgesia. Serum fentanyl concentrations, bupivacaine consumption, pain scores [visual analog scale (VAS)], sedation rating score, adverse events, and physiological parameters were recorded for 48 hours postoperatively. Results: The minimum effective concentration of fentanyl in serum (0.63 ng/mL) was achieved at 11.3 ± 4.9 hours after application, and serum concentrations remained above this level until 13 hours after removal. The TTS‐F group had lower VAS pain scores and a significant 66% reduction in utilization of bupivacaine compared with placebo. Pain scores were significantly correlated with serum fentanyl concentration (P = 0.025). All physiological parameters fluctuated within normal range and no differences were observed between treatments. Adverse events were similar between the groups with only the incidence of local erythema significantly higher in the TTS‐F group (30% vs. 5%, P < 0.05), and sedation scores were significantly higher in the TTS‐F group during the immediate postoperative period. Conclusion: The transdermal therapeutic system for administration of fentanyl, combined with epidural administration of a nonopioid analgesic such as bupivacaine is effective in controlling postoperative pain after gynecologic surgery. Additionally, the safety/tolerability of this regimen was similar to placebo plus bupivacaine.     

Continuous intrathecal fentanyl infusion for postoperative analgesia

Following inadvertent dural puncture during epidural catheter placement, a 20 gauge polyethylene catheter was placed in the intrathecal space, and continuous spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine was administered intraoperatively to supplement general anesthesia. Following surgery, a continuous intrathecal fentanyl infusion (0.2 mcg/kg/hr) was administered to provide postoperative analgesia. The child was awake and comfortable throughout this time and required no supplemental analgesic agents. Although epidural catheters are still our preferred method of analgesia, intrathecal fentanyl infusion is one alternative when inadvertent dural puncture occurs.     

小剂量氯胺酮静脉自控镇痛对严重烧伤休克期患者细胞因子平衡的影响

目的 探讨严重烧伤休克期患者静脉注射小剂量氯胺酮或联合芬太尼静脉自控镇痛（PCIA）对细胞因子平衡的影响。方法 45例严重烧伤患者于伤后24h内入院，随机分为传统镇痛（CAT）、静脉注射氯胺酮自控镇痛（PCIKA）和静脉注射芬太尼加氯胺酮自控镇痛（PCIKFA）3组，每组15例。在积极抗休克的同时，CAT组患者根据需要肌肉注射哌替啶50mg和异丙嗪25mg，PCIKA组给予氯胺酮20g／L＋氟哌利多50mg／L，PCIKFA组给予氯胺酮10g／L＋芬太尼5mg／L＋氟哌利多50mg／L，PCIA负荷量均为1ml，PCIA用量为1ml，锁定时间30min，持续输入量1．5ml／h。检测镇痛前和镇痛后1、8、24和48h血清中白细胞介素-1（IL-1）、IL-6、肿瘤坏北因子-α（TNF-α）的浓度。结果 PCIKA、PCIKFA两组患者镇痛效果明显优于CAT组（P均〈0．01）。镇痛评分较镇痛前及CAT组明显降低（P均〈0．01）各组患者无恶心、呕吐、幻觉及呼吸抑制等不良反应。两组PCIA患者镇痛开始后IL-1、TNF-α与镇痛前比较无明显变化（P均〉0．05），而TL-6镇痛开始后24h与镇痛前比较明显降低（P〈0．01），两组PCIA患者IL-1、IL-6及TNF-α均明显低于CAT组（P均〈0．01）。结论 严重烧伤休克期患者静脉注射小剂量氯胺酮或联合芬太尼进行自控镇痛安全、有效，并有助于维持此类患者休克期细胞因子的平衡状态。     

Postoperative pain and gastro-intestinal recovery after colonic resection with epidural analgesia and multimodal rehabilitation

The aim of the study was to evaluate initial postoperative pain intensity and the association with recovery of gastrointestinal function and length of stay (LOS) in a multimodal programme with epidural analgesia, early oral nutrition and mobilisation with a 48 h planned hospital stay. One hundred and ten consecutive patients scheduled for elective open colonic resection under general anaesthesia with combined thoracic epidural analgesia were prospectively studied. Postoperative epidural analgesia was maintained for 48 h with bupivacaine 2.5 mg/ml and morphine 50 μg/ml, 4 ml/h. Postoperative pain scores were assessed during cough on a categorical scale (0: no pain, 1: slight pain, 2: moderate pain, 3: severe pain) 24 and 48 h after surgery. Sum of pain scores (24 + 48 h assessments) was compared with time to first postoperative defaecation and LOS. Data from 19 patients were excluded because of change in the surgical procedures (2), surgical morbidity (6), medical factors (4) and psychosocial or other factors (5) all independent of pain. Pain data were incomplete in two patients and therefore excluded. In the remaining 91 patients, median time to defaecation and LOS were 24 and 48 h, respectively. Gastrointestinal recovery and LOS did not differ between patients with high (3–6) versus low (0–2) dynamic pain scores (P > 0.4 and P > 0.1, respectively). It is concluded that a multimodal rehabilitation program including continuous thoracic epidural analgesia leads to early recovery of gastrointestinal function and sufficient analgesia allowing discharge within 2–3 days in most patients after colonic resection.     

Ropivacaine/Fentanyl vs. Bupivacaine/Fentanyl for Pain Control in Children after Thoracic Surgery: A Randomized Study

BackgroundAlthough bupivacaine remains a standard local anesthetic for postoperative epidural infusions in pediatric patients, it is increasingly being replaced with ropivacaine by many anesthesiologists. Ropivacaine is associated with less risk for cardiac and central nervous system toxicity.AimsThe purpose of this study was to compare analgesic efficacy and adverse events of postoperative epidural analgesia with ropivacaine/fentanyl versus bupivacaine/fentanyl in children after the Ravitch procedure and thoracotomy.DesignThis was a prospective randomized controlled study.SettingsThis study was conducted at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Rabka Zdroj, Poland.Participants/Subjects94 patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery.MethodsPatients aged 7-17 years were randomly allocated into a ropivacaine 0.2% (RF, n = 45) or bupivacaine 0.125% (BF, n = 45) group; 1 mL of each analgesic solution contained 5 μg fentanyl. All patients received acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nurses assessed pain intensity and incidence of adverse events over 72 hours after surgery and modified analgesia if patient pain intensity was greater than 2 out of 10.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in median pain scores and incidence of adverse events between the RF group and the BF group. The analgesia was excellent (median pain intensity scores at rest, during deep breathing, and when coughing was less than 1 out of 10 in all patients). Adverse events included incidents of desaturation (64/90), nausea (18/90), vomiting (31/90), pruritus (12/90), urinary retention (2/90), paresthesia (11/90), anisocoria (2/90), and Horner syndrome (2/90).ConclusionsThoracic epidural analgesia using an RF and BF solution resulted in similar pain relief and adverse event profiles.