Partial sensory and motor deficit of ipsilateral lower limb after continuous interscalene brachial plexus block

We describe a partial sensory and motor block of the ipsilateral lower limb after interscalene infusion. After and injection of 20 mL of ropivacaine through the needle, the catheter was advanced 5 cm, and an infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% 5 mL/h commenced. Six hours later, the patient reported a left sensory and motor hemisyndrome, which resolved after the infusion was discontinued. Cervical computed tomography showed the tip of the catheter close to the intervertebral foramen at the C7-T1 level and several intravertebral paramedullar air bubbles. We conclude that the neurological symptoms were caused by an injection of local anesthetic via an interscalene catheter placed in proximity to the epidural space. To avoid this complication, we recommend advancing the catheter no more than 2-3 cm and performing frequent neurological evaluation of patients.     

0.5%罗哌卡因与布比卡因10mg在蛛网膜下腔阻滞的比较

目的观察0.5%罗哌卡因、布比卡因10 mg蛛网膜下腔阻滞对感觉、运动神经的阻滞效果及对血流动力学影响。方法随机选取择期行下肢、下腹或肛肠手术病人48例,ASAⅠ~Ⅱ级,分为布比卡因组(BP组)和罗哌卡因组(RP组),于L2~3、L3~4间隙行腰硬联合穿刺,蛛网膜下腔穿刺成功后于蛛网膜下腔分别注入0.5%的布比卡因或罗哌卡因10 mg,之后于硬膜外腔向头侧置管4 cm以备蛛网膜下腔阻滞不能满足手术需要时追加局麻药。观查并记录感觉阻滞平面,运动神经阻滞程度及血流动力学变化。结果两组病人血流动力学稳定,麻醉平面均能满足手术要求。BP组感觉平面高于RP组,RP组术后下肢运动恢复快于BP组。结论0.5%罗哌卡因、布比卡因10 mg用于腰硬联合麻醉可作为肛肠、部分下腹、下肢手术的麻醉选择;其中罗哌卡因术后下肢运动恢复快,较快恢复自主排尿为其优点。     

Persistent neurological deficit and adhesive arachnoiditis following spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine containing preservatives

A 75 year-old female with osteoarthritis of bilateral knee joints was scheduled for right total knee replacement. Her medical history included coronary artery disease, bronchial asthma, and previous surgery of lumbar laminectomy, but she had no neurological deficit before the operation. A 22-gauge spinal needle was inserted at the L 4-5 level and 4 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine with preservatives (Marcain 0.5%) was administered. The sensory block level was noted to L 1 and motor blockade of bilateral feet was achieved within 10 minutes. Anesthesia and operative courses were uneventful for 1.5 hours, and she complained severe low back pain but she could not move her thigh. Eight hours after administration of the anesthetic, her low back pain improved but the anesthetic effects showed no improvement. MRI showed no abnormality of the spinal cord on the following day, but her sensory loss level to L 1 and flaccid paralysis of bilateral lower extremities continued. Myelogram showed inflammation of cauda equina on the fourth day after the operation. She suffered from hydrocephalus two months later and MRI utilizing gadolinium as a contrast medium was consistent with a diagnosis of adhesive arachnoiditis of thoracolumbar region. Her neurological deficit showed no improvement for two years.     

Paraplegia after thoracotomy--not caused by the epidural catheter

BACKGROUND: Paraplegia and peripheral nerve injuries may arise after general anaesthesia from many causes but are easily ascribed to central block if the latter has been used. CASE REPORT: A 56-yr-old woman, with Bechterev disease but otherwise healthy, was operated with left-sided thoracotomy to remove a tumour in the left lower lobe. She had an epidural catheter inserted in the mid-thoracic area before general anaesthesia was started. Bupivacaine 0.5% 5 ml was injected once and the infusion of bupivacaine 0.1% with 2 micrograms/ml fentanyl and 2 micrograms/ml adrenaline (5 ml/h) started at the end of surgery. The patient woke up with total paralysis in the lower limb and sensory analgesia at the level of T8, which remained unchanged at several observations. Laminectomy, performed 17 h after the primary operation, showed a large piece of a haemostatic sponge (Surgicel) compressing the spinal cord, which was then decompressed but the motor and sensory deficit remained virtually unchanged both then and a year later. CONCLUSIONS: This case shows--once again--that although central blocks may cause serious neurological complications and paraplegia, other causes are possible and have to be considered. However, all patients with an epidural catheter must be monitored for early signs and symptoms of an intraspinal process and the appropriate treatment has to be instituted instantly.     

轻比重罗哌卡因单侧腰麻用于单侧下肢创伤手术对PCEA的影响

目的 观察轻比重罗哌卡因单侧腰麻用于下肢创伤手术患者的麻醉效果及其对硬膜外自控镇痛(PCEA)的影响.方法 ASA Ⅰ或Ⅱ级下肢创伤手术患者120例,随机均分为L1、L2、W1、W2四组.L1、L2组分别用轻比重罗哌卡因7.5～15.0 mg、15.0～22.5 mg,W1、W2组分别用重比重罗哌卡因7.5～15.0 mg、15.0～22.5 mg.术后用罗哌卡因150 mg+舒芬太尼0.05 mg+阿扎司琼10 mg+生理盐水至100 ml行PCEA.记录两组麻醉效果、不良反应,术始、术中及PCEA结束时双下肢的Bromage评分.结果 L1、L2、W2组麻醉效果优于W1组(P＜0.05).L1、L2组感觉、运动阻滞起效时间明显短于W1、W2组(P＜0.05).L1组各时点健肢Bromage评分明显低于患肢(P＜0.05).L1组低血压、尿潴留发生率明显低于L2、W2组(P＜0.05).结论 下肢创伤手术使用0.3％轻比重罗哌卡因7.5～15.0 mg单侧腰麻,麻醉效果满意,术后PCEA期间运动阻滞仅限于患肢,血流动力学稳定,不良反应发生率低,患者总体满意度高.     

Paraplegia after epidural anesthesia for vascular surgery]

A case is reported of a 67-year-old man who underwent major vascular surgery (iliobifemoral bypass with unilateral sympathectomy) under epidural anaesthesia and resulting in permanent neurological damage. Lumbar epidural anaesthesia was carried out using a mixture of bupivacaine, lidocaine with adrenaline, and alfentanil. The surgical course was uneventful, except for a 30 minute period of relative hypotension (90 vs. 110 mmHg preoperatively). Continuous epidural analgesia (12 ml.h-1 of 0.125% bupivacaine without adrenaline) was started after the end of surgery. Twelve hours later, flaccid lower limb paralysis was noted, but thought to be due to the bupivacaine. At the 24th hour, the epidural analgesia was discontinued and the catheter removed. There were a motor paralysis and a partial sensory block, raising to the level of T10 (temperature and pain). A CT scan and myelography of the thoracolumbar spine revealed no anomaly. The sensory loss ended within ten days, but the motor deficit regressed only slightly. Unfortunately, the patient died on the 16th day after an episode of severe chest pain. The probable cause of the neurological damage was an anterior spinal infarct. It was not possible to determine the degree of responsibility of the peripheral vascular disease, the anaesthetic or the surgery.     

Advantage of ropivacaine for postoperative epidural analgesia following leg orthopedic surgery

BACKGROUND: Epidural administration of local anesthetics may lead to effective pain relief. However, tachyphylaxis or other problems following prolonged epidural anesthesia may develop and in many cases difficulties exist in the maintenance of the similar degree of sensory blockade. The present study was therefore performed to investigate the analgesic effect of continuous postoperative epidural infusion of ropivacaine with fentanyl in comparison with that of bupivacaine or ropivacaine alone. METHODS: After leg orthopedic surgery with lumbar combined spinal-epidural anesthesia, thirty-six patients were randomized to one of the three postoperative epidural infusion groups: bupivacaine 0.125%, ropivacaine 0.2%, or ropivacaine 0.2% with 2.2 microg x ml(-1) (400 microg x 180 ml(-1)) of fentanyl. Continuous epidural infusion was started at a rate of 6 ml x h(-1) with possibility of an additional bolus injection of 3 ml at least every 60 min. Pain was assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) just before and 15 min after epidural bolus injections, and 15-20 h after the start of continuous epidural infusion as the severe at pain through the observation. The spread of analgesia (loss of sharpness in pinprick perception) and motor block (Bromage scale) were evaluated bilaterally. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were also measured. RESULTS: The epidural bolus infusion was associated with a significant decrease of VAS (P < 0.001) and stable blood pressure and heart rate in all groups. The maximal VAS in patients receiving 0.2% ropivacaine+fentanyl was significantly less compared to that in the other two groups. The regression of sensory blockade was significantly prolonged in patients treated with ropivacaine+fentanyl. There was no significant difference in the spread of sensory analgesia between 20 min and 15-20 h after the continuous epidural anesthesia in this group. None of the patients developed adverse effects such as respiratory depression, nausea, and pruritis. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural injection of ropivacaine with fentanyl decreased postoperative pain with stable vital signs in patients undergoing leg orthopedic surgery, as compared to bupivacaine or ropivacaine alone, possibly because of the maintenance of sensory blockade by ropivacaine and enhancement of this sensory blockade by fentanyl.     

Effectiveness of ropivacaine and fentanyl for postoperative epidural analgesia following thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND: Epidural ropivacaine is now a common drug used for postoperative analgesia. However, little information is available concerning regression of sensory blockade and analgesia following prolonged epidural infusion of ropivacaine. We investigated the efficacy of ropivacaine and fentanyl for postoperative analgesia after thoracic surgery. METHODS: Thirty patients undergoing thoracic surgery were enrolled. After surgery with general and thoracic epidural anesthesia, continuous epidural infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine+fentanyl (1.67 microg x ml(-1)) was started at a rate of 6 ml x h(-1) for patients whose height was more than 155 cm and 4 ml x h(-1) for those below 155 cm with possibility of an additional bolus injection of 3 ml at least every 60 min. RESULTS: An additional epidural injection of 3 ml produced a decrease in VAS without significant changes of vital signs. The greatest VAS was 10+/-25 mm in the incision site and 36+/-38 mm in the ipsilateral shoulder. Sensory blockade was sustained until the morning after the day of surgery. Also blood pressure and heart rate were stable throughout the observation period. There were no adverse effects except for slight nausea in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: A bolus of 3 ml with continuous 4-6 ml x h(-1) epidural injection of ropivacaine plus a small dose of fentanyl would decrease postoperative pain with stable vital signs in patients after thoracic surgery.     

A case of unexpected involuntary movement of lower extremities during epidural anesthesia

A 79-year-old man was scheduled for transurethral resection of the bladder tumor. Preoperative clinical and laboratory examinations revealed no abnormalities. An epidural catheter was inserted into the L3-4 interspace and 1.5% lidocaine 10 ml was injected smoothly with no abnormal signs. Thirty minutes after the injection, involuntary movement of lower extremities was noticed. When the catheter was removed after the operation, there was neither hemorrhage nor pain at the puncture site. Neither sensory disorder nor paralysis occurred while the movement continued for 150 minutes. No abnormal findings which might cause the involuntary movement were detected by clinical examinations including the cerebral CT and lumbar MRI. The detailed mechanism of the involuntary movement was not clarified, but exclusion of several complications including epidural hematoma by CT and MRI examination is essential for further diagnosis and treatment.     

分娩镇痛时硬膜外罗哌卡因运动阻滞的半数有效浓度

目的 确定分娩镇痛时硬膜外罗哌卡因运动阻滞的半数有效浓度(EC50).方法 30例ASA Ⅰ级初产妇,在第一产程宫颈开至2～3 cm时,L2,3硬膜外间隙穿刺,头端置管3 cm,注射负荷量罗哌卡因10 ml,第1例产妇罗哌卡因浓度为0.5%,应用序贯法确定下一例产妇的药物浓度,相邻浓度比值为1.04.注药后30 min时采用改良Bromage评分评价下肢运动阻滞程度.结果 罗哌卡因运动阻滞的EC50为0.674%,95%可信区间为0.651%～0.697%.结论 分娩镇痛时第一产程硬膜外罗哌卡因(10 ml)运动阻滞的EC50为0.674%,95%可信区间为0.651%～0.697%.     

Epidural analgesia in abdominal surgery: 0.2% ropivacaine with sufentanil

AIM: Combining an opioid with peridural local analgesia is an excellent technique to control post-operative pain. Sufentanil is a widely used opioid agent, but its optimal dosage has not yet been defined. In this study we wanted to determine the best dose of epidural sufentanil in major surgery. METHODS: Before the operation, 45 major abdominal surgery patients received blended anesthesia through an epidural chest catheter. The patients were randomized into 3 groups of 15 subjects according to different sufentanil doses [0.2% ropivacaine combined with sufentanil at a dose of 0.5 microg/ml(-1), 0.75 microg/ml(-1), or 1 microg/ml(-1) (groups A, B and C, respectively)] administered through an epidural chest catheter connected to an elastometric pump (5 ml/h) for the first 36 postoperative hours. The level of postoperative analgesia in motion and at rest was measured using an analog visual scale (VAS-R, VAS-I). RESULTS: Analgesia was best in group A, and similar in groups B and C; 2 cases of pruritus were noted in group C. The VAS-I scores were <3 across all 3 patient groups. CONCLUSION: Epidural analgesia is an efficacious and reliable technique. The combination of 0.2% ropivacaine and 0.75 microg/ml(-1) sufentanil was found to be the optimum choice between analgesic efficacy and minor side effects, which correlated with the higher dose of sufentanil given to group C.     

老年患者硬膜外注射罗哌卡因的药效动力学和药代动力学

目的 评价老年患者硬膜外注射罗哌卡因的药效动力学和药代动力学.方法 20例择期行疝修补术的老年患者为老年组,年龄65～84岁,体重52～75 kg;20例择期行疝修补术的成年患者为青年组,年龄20～加岁,体重49～77kg.于k2,3椎间隙行硬膜外穿刺,头端置管3～5 cm,于15min内注射0.5%罗哌卡因1.5 mg/kg.评价感觉阻滞程度,于给药后30 min评价运动阻滞程度,并分别于硬膜外给药前、给药后5、10、20、30、45、60、75、90、120、150 min时抽取足背动脉血样3 ml,采用高效液相色谱法测定血浆罗哌卡因浓度,计算罗哌卡因的药代动力学参数.结果 与青年组比较,老年组罗哌卡因的起效时间缩短,感觉阻滞平面固定时间及感觉阻滞消退时间延长,最高感觉阻滞平面及运动阻滞程度升高(P<0,05).两组罗哌卡因的血药浓度一时间曲线符合二室开放模型,并按一级动力学进行消除.与青年组比较,老年组罗哌卡因的浅室分布半衰期、深室分布半衰期、药峰时间、AUC0→150min、AUC0→Inf差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),罗哌卡因的消除半衰期延长,药峰浓度升高,清除率和表观分布容积减小(P<0.05).结论 老年患者罗哌卡因的血药浓度-时间曲线均符合二室开放模型,与成年患者比较,老年患者硬膜外注射罗哌卡因的总吸收无变化,清除率和表观分布容积减小,药峰浓度升高,消除半衰期延长,感觉阻滞平面和运动阻滞程度升高,感觉阻滞时间延长.     

0.2% ropivacaine with or without sufentanil for patient-controlled epidural analgesia after anterior cruciate ligament repair

AIM: The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to evaluate the effects of adding 0.5 microg/ml sufentanil to 0.2% ropivacaine for patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) on the quality of postoperative pain control in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Twenty ASA physical status I-II patients, scheduled to have elective ACL repair were studied. Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia was performed at the L3-L4 or L4-L5 interspace using a needle-through-needle technique. Spinal anesthesia was induced with 10 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. Postoperative epidural analgesia was started at the end of surgery using a continuous epidural infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine alone (n=10) or 0.2% ropivacaine/0.5 mg mL(-1) sufentanil (n=10). The degree of pain was evaluated at 1, 8, 16, 24 and 48 hours after surgery; at the same observation times the degree of motor block, sedation, oxygen saturation, total consumption of PCEA solution and incremental doses given to the patient were also recorded. RESULTS: No differences in the quality of intraoperative anesthesia was observed, and in no case general anesthesia was required to complete surgery. Patients receiving the combination of ropivacaine and sufentanil showed lower levels of VAS from 16 hours after surgery as compared with ropivacaine group (P=0.02). However, no differences in the degree of pain were observed between the 2 groups during continuous passive mobilization. CONCLUSION: Adding 0.5 microg/ml sufentanil to 0.2% ropivacaine for patient controlled epidural analgesia improved pain control at rest but did not result in significant improvement of postoperative analgesia during continuous passive mobilization.     

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.     

Ropivacaine 0.1% with fentanyl 2 microg mL(-1) by epidural infusion for labour analgesia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 microg mL(-1) via epidural for analgesia in labour. METHODS: In a randomized study, 80 nulliparous parturients in labour had epidural analgesia initiated with 0.2% ropivacaine and fentanyl and were then randomized to receive either 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 microg mL(-1) at 10mL h(-1) (Group R1, n = 38) or 0.2% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 microg mL(-1) at 8 ml h(-1) (Group R2, n = 39) as epidural infusions. Supplementary analgesia was provided on request with ropivacaine 0.2% 5 mL as an epidural bolus. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the visual analogue pain scores either with respect to motor block or sensory block. The amount of local anaesthetic used was lower in the 0.1% ropivacaine group than in the 0.2% ropivacaine group (P = 0.001). Side-effects, patient satisfaction, labour outcome and neonatal outcomes were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: An epidural infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 microg mL(-1) at 10 mL h(-1) provided adequate analgesia in the first stage of labour. The level of analgesia was similar to that obtained using 0.2% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 microg mL(-1) and with no differences with regard to motor or sensory block.     

腹式子宫切除术后甲磺酸罗哌卡因与盐酸罗哌卡因硬膜外病人自控镇痛的比较

目的比较腹式子宫切除术后甲磺酸罗哌卡因与盐酸罗哌卡因硬膜外病人自控镇痛(PCEA)的效果。方法44例腹式子宫切除术病人随机分为两组(n=22):对照组应用0.75%盐酸罗哌卡因连续硬膜外麻醉,术后应用0.2%盐酸罗哌卡因作PCEA;试验组应用0.894%甲磺酸罗哌卡因连续硬膜外麻醉,术后应用0.237%甲磺酸罗哌卡因作PCEA。采用视觉模拟评分法(VAS)评价病人静卧时与咳嗽时的疼痛程度,以修正的Bromage评分法评价病人运动阻滞程度,记录镇痛质量、PCEA 情况和不良反应发生情况。结果两组病人术后VAS评分、镇痛质量、运动阻滞程度及不良反应的发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),试验组镇痛泵有效按压次数少于对照组(P<0.05),除PCEA开始-4 h外,试验组病人其余时间段用药量均少于对照组(P<0.05)。结论0.237%甲磺酸罗哌卡因可用于腹式子宫切除术后PCEA,其镇痛效果和安全性与0.2%盐酸罗哌卡因相似。     

Postoperative analgesia using continuous lumbar epidural infusion of ropivacaine in comparison with bupivacaine

BACKGROUND: Epidural bupivacaine infusion is a commonly used technique for postoperative analgesia because of its motor-sparing properties. Recently a new long acting local anesthetic, ropivacaine, has become available. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ropivacaine and bupivacaine with regard to postoperative analgesia when administered continuously into the lumbar epidural space. METHODS: All patients were ASA I II and undergoing ipsi-lateral leg orthopedic surgery with epidural or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to following three groups: 0.1% ropivacaine (0.1 R); 0.2% ropivacaine (0.2 R); 0.125% bupivacaine (0.125 B). At the end of surgery, continuous infusion was begun at a rate of 6 ml.hr 1 after a bolus epidural administration of 5 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine in R groups and 0.25% bupivacaine in B group. Sensory and motor block, blood pressure, pulse rate, verbal pain score (VPS), analgesic consumption were assessed at 20 min, 1, 3, 10-20 hrs following the beginning of continuous infusion. RESULTS: Vital signs were stable at every measuring point in all groups. In 0.1 R group (n = 20), the spread of sensory block at 3 hrs after infusion was lower than 0.2 R group (n = 19), and VPS during the study was higher than 0.125 B group (n = 17). Bromage scale after 3 hrs was higher in 0.2 R group compared with 0.125 B group. The degree of sensory and motor block gradually decreased, resulting in little difference between the groups. When epidural anesthesia was spread over the surgical area throughout the study, 0.2 R or 0.125 B was sufficiently relieved from postoperative pain. CONCLUSIONS: After leg orthopedic surgery, 6 ml.hr-1 of 0.2 R or 0.125 B provided enough postoperative analgesia when the spread of anesthesia covered the operated area. 0.2 R would be better compared to 0.125 B in continuous epidural infusion for postoperative analgesia due to less systemic toxicity, even though it accompanies a little more intense motor block.     

Cytopathologic examination of epidural catheter for postoperative analgesia. Pathophysiology and clinical management

AIM: The authors performed a prospective study in a series of patients undergoing combined general and epidural anaesthesia for major abdominal surgery in order to define if the epidural catheter inserted for postoperative analgesia induced in the short-term (7-8 postoperative days) any cytopathologically appreciable inflammatory response. METHODS: From April to September 2001, 20 consecutive patients undergoing combined general and epidural anaesthesia for major abdominal surgery at the National Cancer Research Institute and Villa Scassi Hospital (Genoa), were recruited after obtaining Institutional Ethics Committee approval and written consent from the patients. The standard technique for epidural anaesthesia was adopted. Preoperatively, all patients received peridurally a dose test of 3 ml of 2% lidocaine (60 mg) followed by 5 ml of ropivacaine 0.75%, and a continuous infusion of ropivacaine 0.375% (5-10 ml/h; maximal dose=20 ml) intraoperatively. As regards the therapeutic management of postoperative analgesia, patients received a continuous infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% for at least 48 hours and supplemental bolus (2 mg/die) of morphine hydrochloride. The epidural catheter was always removed between the 7th and 8th postoperative day, and it was examined by the pathologist according to the Thin Prep 2000 procedure. RESULTS: The cytopathologic examination of the tip of the epidural catheter gave the following findings: amorphous material without cells (n=10); rare granulocytes and histiocytes (n=6); stromal cells (n=3), and rare lymphocytes (n=1). CONCLUSION: We were unable to detect any cytopathologically appreciable inflammatory response at the tip of the epidural catheter which could have suggested the occurrence of inflammation in the epidural tissues. Given the positive results of prophylactic epidural administration of small doses of corticosteroids in the reduction of postepidural anaesthesia back pain and their direct membrane action on nociceptive C-fibers, this kind of backache seems to be related to the stimulations of such nociceptors more than to a catheter-related inflammatory response of epidural tissues with possible evolution in peridural fibrosis, as reported following surgical intervention for lumbosacral disease.     

罗哌卡因复合芬太尼用于可行走硬膜外分娩镇痛的可行性

目的 探讨0．075％罗哌卡因或布比卡因与芬太尼2μg/ml的混合液用于可行走硬膜外分娩镇痛的可行性。方法 60例初产妇随机分为三组：A组（n＝20）0．075％罗哌卡因＋芬太尼2μg/ml;B组（n＝20）0．075％布比卡因＋芬太尼2μg/ml;C级（n＝20）为对照组。采用双盲法进行视觉模拟疼痛评分（VAS）和行走功能的评定。记录各组产妇的生命体征、胎心率（FHR）、产程时间、分娩方式、催产素用量以及新生儿Apgar评分和脐静脉血气分析,并测定用药前和宫口开全时母体血清皮质醇浓度。结果 A、B两组产妇均获得良好镇痛效果,镇痛后A组所有产妇均能下床行走和自主排尿,而B组仅70％产妇能下床行走和自主排尿,两组比较有显著性差异（P＜0．05）;A、B两组第一产程末血清皮质醇浓度明显低于C组（P＜0．05）。产程时间、分娩方式和新生儿Apgar评分各组间均无差异（P＞0．05）。结论 0．075％罗哌卡因和芬太尼2μg/ml的混合液有效安全地用于可行走硬膜外分娩镇痛。