Patient-controlled epidural analgesia after abdominal surgery: ropivacaine versus bupivacaine.

In this randomized, double-blinded study we sought to assess the analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine and bupivacaine in combination with sufentanil and the efficacy of ropivacaine alone after major abdominal surgery. Sixty patients undergoing major abdominal surgery received standardized general anesthesia combined with epidural thoracic analgesia. They were allocated to one of three groups: the BS group received postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia with 0.125% bupivacaine plus 0.5 microg/mL sufentanil; the RS group received 0.125% ropivacaine plus 0.5 microg/mL sufentanil; and the R group received 0.2% ropivacaine, with the patient-controlled epidural analgesia device set at bolus 2-3 mL and background infusion 3-5 mL/h. Visual analog scale scores were significantly lower during coughing in the BS group compared with the RS and R groups and in the RS group compared with the R group. The BS group required significantly less local anesthetic (milligrams per day) during the first three postoperative days compared with the RS and R groups, and the RS group, significantly less than the R group. No major side effects were noted in any group. We conclude that, after major abdominal surgery, thoracic epidural analgesia was more effective with bupivacaine than with ropivacaine when these two local anesthetics are used in a mixture with sufentanil. Ropivacaine alone was less effective than ropivacaine in combination with sufentanil. IMPLICATIONS: After major abdominal surgery, thoracic epidural analgesia was more effective with 0.125% bupivacaine than with 0.125% ropivacaine when these two local anesthetics were used in a mixture with 0.5 microg/mL sufentanil. Ropivacaine 0.2% alone was less effective than 0.125% ropivacaine combined with sufentanil.     

硬膜外超前镇痛对上腹部手术病人应激反应的影响

目的 比较硬膜外超前镇痛和术后硬膜外镇痛对上腹部手术病人应激反应的影响.方法 择期全麻下拟行上腹部手术的病人30例,ASA Ⅰ或Ⅱ级,随机分为2组(n=15):术后硬膜外镇痛组(C组)和硬膜外超前镇痛组(P组).于T_(10,11)间隙行硬膜外穿刺并置管.P组切皮前20 min时硬膜外注射0.5 μg/ml舒芬太尼+0.15%罗哌卡因混合液15 ml,30 min后接镇痛4泵,以5 ml/h的速率硬膜外输注250 ml.C组病人术后硬膜外注射0.5μg/ml舒芬太尼+0.15%罗哌卡因混合液15 ml,30 min后接镇痛泵,以5 ml/h的速率硬膜外输注250 ml.于硬膜外穿刺前(T_0),术后2 h(T_1)和18 h(T_2)时,采集静脉血样6 ml,测定血浆促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)浓度和血清皮质醇(Cor)、C反应蛋白(CRP)的浓度.结果 与T0时比较,两组,T1和T2时血清Cor、CRP的浓度和血浆ACTH浓度均升高(P<0.01);与C组比较,P组T1和T2时血清Cor、CRP的浓度和血浆ACTH浓度均降低(P<0.05).结论 与术后硬膜外镇痛相比,硬膜外超前镇痛可更好地抑制上腹部手术病人术后应激反应.     

Thoracic epidural analgesia compared with patient controlled intravenous morphine after upper abdominal surgery

Twenty–one ASA I or II patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery were studied for 24 hours after operation. They were entered into a prospective, randomised study of patient–controlled intravenous morphine compared with continuous thoracic epidural fentanyl combined with 0.2% bupivacaine. Pain relief was superior in the bupivacaine series ( P < 0.05) throughout the 24 hour study period and this was associated with significantly greater pulmonary ventilation compared with the PCA series. Forced expiratory parameters were reduced in both series after the operation but significantly less so in the epidural group. There was a reduced incidence of emetic symptoms in the epidural group ( P < 0.05) but the incidence of other minor side effects did not differ significantly. Thoracic epidural fentanyl/bupivacaine results in significantly better analgesia than patient–controlled intravenous morphine.     

Study of analgestic efficacy of ropivacaine-fentanyl patient-controlled epidural analgesia after upper abdominal gynecological surgery

BACKGROUND: Most of the patients who undergo radical or subradical hysterectomy with paraaortic lymphadenectomy suffer from postoperative pain for upper abdominal incision. They also complain of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) frequently, which are increased by opioids. METHODS: Reducing total fentanyl dose to 0.6 mg, frequency of moving pain complaints increased gradually. Therefore, we introduced patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) for suppressing pain on moving. We investigated analgestic efficacy of 0.2% ropivacaine-fentanyl PCEA in twelve patients undergoing upper abdominal gynecological surgery. Postoperative analgesic effects were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest and on moving, times of bolus infusion, side effects, and degrees of satisfication by patient's self-assessments. Continuous epidural infusion of 0.6 mg fentanyl in 288 ml 0.2% ropivacaine was started at a rate of 4 ml x hr(-1) with a bolus dose of 2 ml. RESULTS: VAS was maintained below 20 mm at rest but was elevated to the maximum of 45 mm on moving with few bolus requests. Ninty-two percents of the patients answered satisfied but fifty percents of them had PONV. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ropivacaine-fentanyl PCEA is effective after upper abdominal gynecological surgery, and we can decrease the dose of fentanyl by explaining PCEA system more effectively to the patients for suppressing the pain on moving and PONV.     

Pre-incisional epidural ketamine, morphine and bupivacaine combined with epidural and general anaesthesia provides pre-emptive analgesia for upper abdominal surgery

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) receptor antagonists provide a pre-emptive analgesic effect in humans. This study investigated the benefits of pre-emptive analgesia for upper abdominal surgery, using pre-incisional epidural ketamine + morphine + bupivacaine (K+M+B) treatment for achieving postoperative pain relief. METHODS: Sixty ASA 1-2 patients scheduled for upper abdominal surgery were allocated to three groups in a randomized, single-blinded study. Patients in the control group (I) received general anaesthesia followed by an infusion of normal saline. Group II and III patients received general anaesthesia with a continuous epidural infusion of 2% lidocaine. Thirty minutes after the incision in groups I and II, an epidural pain control regimen was administered using ketamine (10 mg) and morphine (1 mg) in 10 ml of 0.085% bupivacaine (K+M+B). Group III patients also received K+M+B, but it was administered 10 min after the 2% lidocaine injection and 30 min before skin incision. All patients received an epidural pain control regimen (q12 h) for 3 days after their first injection. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine was used to control subsequent postoperative pain. During the 3-day period following surgery, duration to PCA trigger (h), morphine consumption (mg), pain intensity at rest and when coughing/moving, and analgesic-related adverse effects were recorded. The VAS scale (0-10) was used to assess pain intensity. RESULTS: Median times to first PCA trigger were 1.2 (0.5-2.0) h, 3.0 (0.7-4.2) h, and 4.0 (2.5-7.5) h for groups I, II, and III, respectively. Both the incident and resting pain scores were consistently lower for group III patients than groups I and II. The number of PCA triggers (all attempts/successful triggers) during the day following surgery were 14.0 (3-30)/8.0 (3-24) times, 10.0 (3-23)/6.0 (2-20) times, and 7.0 (3-12)/4.5 (1-10) times for groups I, II, and III. Total morphine consumption for the 3-day observation period was 12.5 (3-42) mg, 10.5 (2-29) mg, and 6.0 (1-20) for groups I, II, and III, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pre-incisional epidural K+M+B treatment combined with continuous epidural anaesthesia and general anaesthesia provides an ideal pre-emptive analgesic therapy, exhibiting better postoperative pain relief than general anaesthesia and post-incisional K+M+B treatment.     

盐酸帕洛诺司琼预防上腹部手术后硬膜外吗啡镇痛所致的恶心呕吐

目的 观察和评价帕洛诺司琼对上腹部手术后硬膜外吗啡镇痛引起的恶心呕吐的预防效果和安全性.方法 择期行上腹部手术并术后接受硬膜外吗啡镇痛患者60例,随机分为帕洛诺司琼组（P组）和托烷司琼组（T组）.手术结束前30 min,P组患者缓慢静注帕洛诺司琼0.25 mg,T组患者缓慢静注托烷司琼6 mg.观察记录两组患者术后24 h、48 h VAS及Ramsay评分、恶心呕吐的程度,计算恶心呕吐有效控制率.同时记录患者腹胀、头痛、椎体外系症状等不良反应.结果 两组患者术后24 h及48 h的VAS及Ramsay评分差异无统计学意义.P组患者术后24 h的恶心及呕吐有效控制率分别为80.0%和73.3%,T组分别为63.3%和60.0%;P组患者术后48 h的恶心及呕吐有效控制率分别为90.0%和93.3%,T组分别为66.6%和63.3%.两组患者术后24 h恶心、呕吐有效控制率差异无统计学意义.P组患者术后48 h恶心、呕吐有效控制率明显优于T组患者（P 〈 0.05）.帕洛诺司琼的不良反应主要为头痛.结论 腹部手术后24 h内,帕洛诺司琼预防吗啡硬膜外镇痛所致的恶心呕吐的效果与托烷司琼相当,但术后48 h预防恶心呕吐的效果优于托烷司琼,且不良反应发生率低,程度较轻,安全性好.     

Effect of thoracic epidural analgesia on recovery of bowel function after major upper abdominal surgery

Study ObjectiveWe investigated whether thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) shortens the first gas-out time compared to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (iv-PCA) and promotes earlier discharge after major upper abdominal surgery.DesignProspective observational study.SettingA tertiary care university hospital.PatientsFifty-six patients undergoing major upper abdominal surgery.InterventionsTEA (n = 28) was performed using a paramedian approach at T6-7 or T7-8. Hydromorphone (8 μg/mL) was added to 0.15% ropivacaine (bolus/lockout time/basal: 3 mL/15 minutes/5 mL). The iv-PCA regimen (n = 28) included 20 μg/mL fentanyl (bolus/lockout time/basal: 0.5 mL/15 minutes/0.5 mL). The 2 analgesic methods were maintained for 3 days.MeasurementThe primary end point was first gas-out time, and the secondary end points were hospital discharge, pain scores, and first voiding time.Main ResultsNo differences in first gas-out time (TEA, 4.1 ± 1.2 days; iv-PCA, 3.4 ± 1.9 days; P = .15) or hospital stay (TEA, 9.8 ± 2.2 days; iv-PCA, 11.4 ± 5.2 days; P = .19) were observed between the 2 groups. A visual analog pain scale scores during rest and coughing were lower in the TEA than those for iv-PCA even with 40% to 46% less rescue analgesic. However, TEA delayed first voiding time (3.6 ± 0.9 vs 2.8 ± 1.6 days; P = .02) and required more frequent bladder catheterization (46% vs 11%; P = .008) than those of iv-PCA.ConclusionTEA with a regimen of hydromorphone (8 μg/mL) added to 0.15% ropivacaine did not provide earlier gas-out compared to that of iv-PCA in patients who underwent major upper abdominal surgery.     

Neuroleptanesthesia versus thoracic epidural anesthesia for abdominal aortic surgery

The hemodynamic consequences of abdominal aortic surgery with infrarenal cross-clamping were studied in 21 patients randomized in two groups. In Group I (11 patients), neuroleptanesthesia was utilized, while Group II (10 patients) received thoracic epidural anesthesia at the T8-9 level. Hemodynamic measurements were performed using Swan-Ganz catheters during the surgical procedures in all patients, with special attention to the periods of clamping and unclamping of the abdominal aorta. The thoracic epidural anesthesia group was characterized by greater hemodynamic stability during surgery, while patients in the neuroleptanesthesia group had significant lability of blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac index. Nevertheless, in the two groups of patients, it is suggested that cardiac function was unfitted to the tissue oxygen demand after unclamping of the aortic prosthesis because the saturation in oxygen of the mixed venous blood and an increase in arteriovenous difference in oxygen were documented. These results point out that, whatever the anesthesia technique, the critical period in abdominal surgery could be aortic unclamping.     

Continuous postoperative epidural analgesia in abdominal surgery using ropivacain

We studied the selective block on patients receiving epidural Ropivacain (R) infusion for postoperative analgesia after major abdominal surgery. Twenty patients received R and twenty patients received Bupivacain (B) via peridural catheter during and after surgery. The patients' age ranged between 40 and 80 and they belonged to ASA I, II and III risk group. The epidural catheter was inserted one day before surgery and the proper position was tested by 80 mg Lidocaine. The epidural needle was inserted via T10-L1 interspaces in upper abdominal surgery and through L1-L3 interspaces in lower abdominal surgery. After the operation continuous epidural infusion of 2 mg/ml solution of R or 2.5 mg/ml solution of B was started. The infusion rate was changed according to the grade of sensory and motor block. The following parameters were observed during the postoperative 72 hours: blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood O2 saturation, modified Bromage (BMG) score, verbal analogue scale (VAS), the spread of sensory block. Satisfactory sensory blockade was achieved with both local anaesthetics. The required daily dose of R and B increased during 72 hours. VAS scores reached their maximum level within 24 hours and were lower in the R group than in the B group but the difference was not significant. We experienced that 0.25% B causes more intense motor block than 0.2% R in equianalgetic dose but the difference did not reach a significant level. The infusion rate was often decreased because of the unwanted motor block caused by 0.25% B leading to insufficient postoperative analgesia. Because of this fact patients receiving B required opioid addition more often. Our conclusion is that R/B relative dose ratio is 1.2 suggesting that these local anaesthetics have different analgesic potency.     

Rectus sheath catheters for continuous analgesia after upper abdominal surgery

The segmental nerves T6-T11 pass through and innervate the rectus abdominis muscle and overlying skin. The arcuate lines compartmentalize the rectus, but they are deficient posteriorly and hence a catheter tunnelled into the posterior sheath can be used to achieve an effective continuous analgesic block. Volume is important to fill the compartment. It is a simple surgical procedure that has several advantages and appears a viable alternative to epidural analgesia.     

术后镇痛对老年人上腹部手术后肺功能的影响

３２例 ＡＳＡ Ⅱ～Ⅲ级择期行上腹部手术（ＵＡＳ）的老年患者随机分成两组：对照组（ｎ＝１６）和术后每６小时用 ０． １２５％丁听卡因十芬太尼０．０２５ｍｇ １０ｍｌ行硬膜外镇痛（ＰＥＡ）组（ｎ＝１６），分析两组患者术前，拔管时，术后４、８和２４小时的呼吸频率（ＲＲ）、潮气量（ＶＴ）、分钟通气量（ＭＶ）和动脉血ｐＨＰａＯ２、ＰａＣＯ２、ＮＣＯ０－３、ＢＥ－Ｂ、Ｏ２Ｓａｔ。结果表明：虽术后持续鼻导管吸氧，对照组仍出现严重的呼吸抑制和酸碱平衡紊乱，尤以术后８小时内，特别是４小时内最严重；而镇痛组则程度轻微且无明显缺氧、二氧化碳蓄积和酸碱平衡失调。可见用０．１２５％丁哌卡因十芬太尼０．０２５ｍｇ １０ｍｌ行ＰＥＡ能改善老年患者的术后肺功能。但在ＰＥＡ期间仍应继续进行呼吸监测，并常规给予吸氧至少８小时。//     

The influence of epidural analgesia on the splanchnic exchange of amino acids during upper abdominal surgery

Splanchnic turnover of plasma amino acids was studied in 10 patients given thoracic epidural analgesia combined with general anaesthesia for elective cholecystectomy. Ten other patients given only general anaesthesia for cholecystectomy served as a control group. All patients received an infusion of glucose during the investigation. The total concentration of amino acids in arterial plasma did not change in the patients given epidural analgesia but decreased by approximately 15% in the non-epidural group. In both groups splanchnic uptake of amino acids increased during surgery and was found to be more than doubled in the early postoperative period. The addition of epidural analgesia to general anaesthesia did not modify the splanchnic uptake of amino acids during surgery and in the immediate (2 h) postoperative period.