Intrathecal fentanyl added to hyperbaric ropivacaine for cesarean delivery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hyperbaric ropivacaine produces adequate spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Addition of opioid to local anesthetics improves spinal anesthesia. We assessed the effect of fentanyl added to hyperbaric ropivacaine for spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. METHODS: Fifty-nine healthy, full-term parturients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive either fentanyl 10 micro g or normal saline 0.2 mL added to 0.5% hyperbaric ropivacaine 18 mg. Characteristics of spinal block, intraoperative quality of spinal anesthesia, side effects, complete analgesia (time to first feeling of pain), and effective analgesia (time to first request of analgesics) were assessed. RESULTS: Duration of sensory block was prolonged in the fentanyl group (P <.05). Duration of motor block was similar in both groups. The quality of intraoperative analgesia was better in the fentanyl group (P <.05). Incidence of side effects did not differ between groups. Duration of complete analgesia (143.2 +/- 34.2 minutes v 101.4 +/- 21.4 minutes; P <.001) and effective analgesia (207.2 +/- 32.2 minutes v 136.3 +/- 14.1 minutes; P <.001) were prolonged in the fentanyl group. CONCLUSIONS: Adding fentanyl 10 micro g to hyperbaric ropivacaine 18 mg for spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery improves intraoperative anesthesia and increases the analgesia in the early postoperative period.     

Intrathecal ropivacaine or bupivacaine with fentanyl for labour

Combined spinal-epidural (CSE) is widely used to provide painrelief in labour while minimizing motor blockade. Aiming tofurther reduce associated motor weakness, we compared ropivacaine2.5 mg in the intrathecal injection with a standard bupivacaineCSE in a double-blind study. Forty women were randomized toreceive either bupivacaine 2.5 mg or ropivacaine 2.5 mg intrathecally,both with fentanyl 0.025 mg. There were no significant differencesbetween the groups regarding the onset, duration or qualityof analgesia or the level of sensory block attained. Forty percent of the women (8/20) receiving bupivacaine developed detectablemotor block compared with only 5% (1/20) in the ropivacainegroup (P<0.05). Vibration sense was impaired in one womanin each group. Adverse effects did not differ between groups.We conclude that intrathecal ropivacaine 2.5 mg in combinationwith fentanyl 0.025 mg as part of a CSE technique provides rapidand safe analgesia for labour as effective as that achievedwith bupivacaine 2.5 mg and with significantly less motor block. Br J Anaesth 2001; 87: 733–7     

No enhancement of sensory and motor blockade by ketamine added to ropivacaine interscalene brachial plexus blockade

BACKGROUND: Ketamine can enhance anesthetic and analgesic actions of a local anesthetic via a peripheral mechanism. The authors' goal was to determine whether or not ketamine added to ropivacaine in interscalene brachial plexus blockade prolongs postoperative analgesia. In addition, we wanted to determine the incidence of adverse-effects in patients undergoing hand surgery. METHODS: Sixty adults scheduled for forearm or hand surgery under the interscalene brachial plexus block were prospectively randomized to receive one of the solutions of the study. Group P received 0.5% ropivacaine 30 ml, group K received 0.5% ropivacaine 30 ml with 30 mg ketamine, and group C received 0.5% ropivacaine with 30 mg ketamine i.v. Loss of shoulder abduction, elbow flexion, wrist flexion and loss of pinprick in the C4-7 sensory dermatomes were assessed at 1-min intervals. Adverse-effects were assessed every 5 min. The duration of the sensory and motor blocks was assessed after operation. Adverse-effects were also recorded. RESULTS: The onset time of sensory or motor blockade and the duration of sensory or motor blockade were similar in all groups. Adverse-effects occurred in 44% of patients in group K and 94% of group C. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that 30 mg ketamine added to ropivacaine in the brachial plexus block does not improve the onset or duration of sensory block, but it does cause a relatively high incidence of adverse-effects. These two findings do not encourage the use of ketamine with local anesthetics for brachial plexus blockade.     

芬太尼对罗哌卡因低位硬膜外麻醉效果的影响

目的探讨芬太尼对罗哌卡因行低位矿膜外麻醉时的麻醉效果及其量效关系的影响。方法60例ASAI-Ⅱ级择期腰椎间盘手术成年病人，随机分为A、B、C三组，每组20例，均于T12／L1椎间隙行硬膜外腔穿刺，向下置管3cm。硬膜外局麻药配方分别为：A组0．5％罗哌卡因、B组0．5％罗哌卡因＋芬太尼2mg／L、C组0．5％罗哌卡因＋芬太尼4mg／L。观察记录麻醉效果，持续时间，运动阻滞程度及副作用等。应用Probit半数效量回归法分别计算三组ED50值和ED95值。结果三组配方60例病人在腰椎手术中行硬膜外麻醉有58例获得满意效果。罗哌卡因在C组ED50值和ED95值均明显小于A组（P〈0．05）。C组麻醉持续时间较A、B组长，Bromage评级较A、B组低（P〈0．05），三组间不良反应发生例数无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论低位硬膜外麻醉时芬太尼能明显增强罗哌卡因麻醉效果，延长麻醉作用时间，并减轻下肢运动阻滞程度，其中C组效果最佳。     

The effect of the addition of ropivacaine or bupivacaine upon pruritus induced by intrathecal fentanyl in labour

Sixty patients in early labour were randomly allocated to one of three groups. The control group received intrathecal fentanyl 25 microg, the ropivacaine group received intrathecal fentanyl 25 microg and ropivacaine 2.5 mg while the bupivacaine group received intrathecal fentanyl 25 microg and bupivacaine 2.5 mg. The incidence of pruritus was 100% in controls, compared with 85% in the ropivacaine group (not significant) and 75% in the bupivacaine group (p = 0.003). The severity of pruritus was significantly less in the ropivacaine (p = 0.006) and bupivacaine (p = 0.001) groups. Most patients developed pruritus by 30 min. Pruritus above the abdomen was not reduced in patients receiving local anaesthetics. There were no significant differences in the mean pain visual analogue score, systolic blood pressure, maternal heart rate and upper level of reduced pin-prick sensation in the first 30 min. Intrathecal ropivacaine and, more so, intrathecal bupivacaine reduce the incidence and severity of pruritus from intrathecal fentanyl for labour analgesia.     

The influence of intrathecal fentanyl on the characteristics of subarachnoid block for Caesarean section

Forty healthy parturients scheduled for elective Caesarean section were randomly allocated to receive either 0.3 ml 0.9% saline (control group, n  = 20) or 15 μg (0.3 ml) fentanyl (treatment group, n  = 20) added to 2.5 ml 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine given intrathecally in the sitting position. A sensory block to T₄ was achieved after 6.5 min in those who received fentanyl compared to 8.0 min in the control group; this was not significantly different. The highest level of sensory block achieved in both groups was similar. Ephedrine was required earlier (p < 0.05) in those who received fentanyl but the total requirement of ephedrine intra-operatively was similar. Fentanyl significantly improved the quality of intra-operative surgical anaesthesia as none of the patients in the treatment group complained of discomfort compared with seven in the control group (p < 0.05). Similarly those in the treatment group had better comfort scores as evaluated by visual analogue score (p < 0.01). Regression of anaesthesia to T₁₂ took longer (184 vs 156 min, p < 0.05) in those who received fentanyl but this did not affect the total requirement of morphine in the first 24 h after operation. There was no difference in the incidence of side effects in the mother and no adverse effects were detected in the baby. The results indicate that adding 15 μg fentanyl to hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia markedly improves intra-operative anaesthesia for Caesarean section.     

Small dose of clonidine mixed with low-dose ropivacaine and fentanyl for epidural analgesia after total knee arthroplasty

Background. We studied whether a small dose of clonidine addedto a ropivacaine–fentanyl mixture improves epidural analgesiawithout provoking side effects typically related to larger amountsof epidural clonidine. Methods. In this randomized, double-blinded study, patients(     

Intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine 3 mg + fentanyl 10 microg for outpatient knee arthroscopy with tourniquet

BACKGROUND: Combination of local anesthetic and opioid enables the use of less spinal anesthetic and increases the success of anesthesia. Intrathecal opioid does not prolong motor recovery and thus should not delay discharge home. We hypothesized that 3 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine with 10 microg of fentanyl permits fast-tracking or shorter stay in post anesthesia care unit (PACU), and earlier discharge home, compared with 4 mg of hyperbaric bupivacaine. METHODS: In this double-blind study, 100 outpatients undergoing knee arthroscopy received randomly either 4 mg of bupivacaine (B4) or 3 mg of bupivacaine + 10 microg fentanyl (B3F) intrathecally. The volume of 0.8 ml was injected at the L2/3 interspace over a 2-min period. A lateral decubitus position was maintained for 10 min. The sensory block was recorded by using thermal stimuli, and motor block was assessed according to a modified Bromage scale. Fast-tracking criteria were complete recovery of motor block, sensory block Th12 or lower and stable vital signs. RESULTS: One block (1%) failed. Motor recovery was faster in the B3F group: 60% of the patients recovered in 80 min or less compared with 28% in group B4 (P = 0.002). The PACU-time was shorter: 36 (10-103) vs. 55 (10-140) min, respectively (P = 0.005). Seventeen (B3F) vs. nine patients (B4) could bypass PACU (NS). Time to discharge home was similar in both groups. In the B3F group, 75% of the patients developed pruritus. CONCLUSION: Both solutions produced reliable spinal anesthesia for outpatient knee arthroscopy. The PACU-time was shorter in the bupivacaine-fentanyl group, but both groups reached home-readiness equally.     

Analgesia for appendectomy: comparison of fentanyl and alfentanil in children

During etomidate-N2O vecuronium anaesthesia for appendectomy, three groups of 13 children received fentanyl as a 10 micrograms.kg-1 loading dose and 2 micrograms.kg-1 increments in Group F, alfentanil as a 100 micrograms.kg-1 initial loading dose and either 20 micrograms.kg-1 increments in Group AB or 1 microgram.kg-1.min-1 continuous infusion in Group AI. On the basis of intraoperative heart rate changes, the opioid regimen was less efficient in Group AB (P less than 0.05). Based upon equianalgesic cumulative dosage, the alfentanil/fentanyl potency ratio was in the range of 1/10 to 1/13. The awakening time was similar in all groups, as were the duration of postoperative analgesia, the incidence of postoperative pain and the incidence of nausea and vomiting. We conclude that high-dose alfentanil is as efficient as fentanyl for intra and postoperative analgesia in children undergoing appendectomy.     

重比重联合轻比重罗哌卡因在蛛网膜下腔麻醉剖宫产术中的应用

目的 分析剖宫产术中使用重比重罗哌卡因联合轻比重罗哌卡因的蛛网膜下腔麻醉与单一重比重罗哌卡因蛛网膜下腔麻醉效果及血流动力学变化. 方法 选择142例在蛛网膜下腔-硬膜外腔联合麻醉下拟行择期剖宫产术患者.根据标准纳入的患者(132例)按计算机编码被随机分配到单一重比重罗哌卡因组(A组)或重比重和轻比重罗哌卡因联合组(B组),每组66例.主要观察指标是低血压的发生率,次要观察指标是感觉阻滞水平. 结果 两组均表现出相似的麻醉效果.A组低血压发生率比B组显著增高(74％比45％)(P＜0.05),A组恶心发生率比B组显著增加(23％比8％)(P＜0.05). 结论 重比重联合轻比重罗哌卡因蛛网膜下腔麻醉相比单一的重比重罗哌卡因蛛网膜下腔麻醉可提供相似的麻醉效果及更加稳定的血流动力学.     

Ventilatory effects of subarachnoid fentanyl in the elderly

Twenty-eight elderly patients scheduled for urological surgery were randomly assigned to receive, in a double-blind study, subarachnoid hyperbaric bupivacaine 15 mg with 50 micrograms (group A, n = 7), 25 micrograms (group B, n = 7), or 12.5 micrograms (group C, n = 7) of fentanyl or 1 ml of saline (group D, n = 7) in a total volume of 4 ml. The pattern of breathing and the ventilatory response to CO2 were studied before and 90, 150 and 480 min after the subarachnoid injection. In group A, mild pruritus and sedation occurred in five patients, while nausea, vomiting and periodic breathing occurred in two. In group B, mild pruritus and sedation were observed in four patients, while nausea and vomiting occurred in two. No significant differences in minute ventilation, respiratory drive and respiratory timing were observed between the groups. Patients receiving fentanyl 50 micrograms showed a percentual change from baseline values as function of time (slope VE/PE'CO2) significantly below baseline at 90 and 150 min (p less than 0.05). However, the baseline values in this group reverted after 480 min. No side effects were observed in groups C or D. It is concluded that subarachnoid fentanyl 50 micrograms can cause an early respiratory depression and its use as a postoperative analgesic should be avoided in the elderly.     

Posture-related distribution of hyperbaric bupivacaine in cerebro-spinal fluid is influenced by spinal needle characteristics

BACKGROUND: No studies have evaluated the relationship between duration of time sitting and spinal needle type on the maximal spread of local anaesthetics. The few trials available have studied the influence of time spent sitting on the spread of anaesthesia without standardising spinal needle types, and have not found any effect. METHODS: In this randomised, blinded study, 60 patients scheduled for elective orthopaedic surgery of the lower limbs were divided into 4 groups. With the patient sitting erect, 15 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine were injected in a standard manner through a 24G Sprotte or a 27G Whitacre needle and patients were placed supine after 1 min (24G/1 group and 27G/1 group) or 4 min (24G/4 group and 27G/4 group). RESULTS: Time to achieve maximum block height after injection was similar in all groups. Block height levels were significantly lower at all time points for the 24G/4 group. Maximum block heights were Th4 in the 24G/1, 27G/1 and 27G/4 groups, and Th6 in the 24G/4 group (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: In a standard spinal anaesthesia procedure, when different lengths of time spent sitting are compared, spinal needle characteristics influence the maximum spread of hyperbaric bupivacaine. However, within the limits of our study, a two-segment difference in block height is too small to consider using spinal needles as valuable tools to control block height during spinal anaesthesia in our daily practice.     

剖宫产术患者重比重罗哌卡因混合小剂量舒芬太尼腰麻的效果

目的探讨重比重罗哌卡因混合小剂量舒芬太尼用于剖宫产术患者腰麻的效果。方法择期行剖宫产术的单胎和妊娠足月初产妇40例,年龄22～34岁,体重60～73 kg,ASAⅠ级。随机分为2组（n=20）,罗哌卡因组（R组）蛛网膜下腔注射1%罗哌卡因1.5 ml（15 nag）＋生理盐水0.7ml＋ 50%葡萄糖0.3 ml;罗哌卡因＋舒芬太尼组（R＋S组）蛛网膜下腔注射1%罗哌卡因1.5 ml（15 mg）＋舒芬太尼5μg（0.1 ml）＋生理盐水0.6 ml＋50%葡萄糖0.3ml。蛛网膜下腔穿刺成功后,将混合药液注入蛛网膜下腔,速率0.1 ml/s。记录感觉阻滞、运动阻滞情况,术中疼痛程度、腹肌松弛程度和牵拉反应程度,术中低血压、心动过缓、恶心、呕吐及瘙痒等不良反应的发生和处理情况,新生儿体重及出生后1 min和5 min Apgar评分。结果R＋S组蛛网膜下腔注药后感觉阻滞平面达到T10、T6和最高阻滞平面的时间短于R组,且最高阻滞平面升高（P〈0.05或0.01）;蛛网膜下腔注药后2组下肢运动阻滞起效时间和达最大运动阻滞时间差异无统计学意义,2组最大运动阻滞评分均为3分（P〉0.05）。R＋S组感觉阻滞恢复至L3、首次感觉疼痛和开始PCA镇痛的时间比R组长（P〈0.05或0.01）,下肢运动阻滞完全恢复时间组间比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。R＋S组牵拉反应程度低于R组（P〈0.01）。2组不良反应发生率、麻黄碱和阿托品使用率及新生儿体重、出生后1min和5 min Apgar评分差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论剖宫产术患者重比重罗哌卡因混合舒芬太尼5μg腰麻感觉阻滞起效时间缩短,阻滞平面上移,持续镇痛作用时间延长。     

Glinical study about low epidural block efficacy of ropivacaine and bupivacaine at the equivalent concentrations

Objective：The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to compare the low epidural block efficacy of ropivacaine and bupivacaine at the equivalent concentrations. Methods Eighty patients （44 male and 36 female patients） undergoing selective lower abdominal or lower extremity surgery were allocated randomly to four groups with 20 in each, receiving 0.5% bupivacaine （group B0.5）, 0.5% ropivacaine （group R0.5）, 0.75% bupivacaine （group B0.75） and 0.75% ropivacaine （group R0.75）, respectively. Prior to surgery, with double blind method, 0.5%, 0.75% ropivacaine, or 0.5%, 0.75% bupivacaine as local anesthetic solutions were injected respectively via epidural catheters at interspace of L2-3 or L3-4. Patients received the experimental drug 4 ml as a catheter test dose in order to avoid the catheter being improperly placed into the subarechnoid space. Ropivacaine or bupivacaine 3-5ml was administered at five minutes intervals until anesthetic effect had met surgery demand. （The segmental level of sensory block by pinpricking had extended above the top of surgery incision.） During the procedure, no additional study drug was injected into the epidurel space while the patients were being recorded, including onset time, the efficacy of sensory moter block, duration, cardiovascular effects, the quality of analgesia and neuromuscular block, adverse reactions and complications. All subjects were continuously monitored non-invasion blood pressure, heart rate（HR）, oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry（SpO2） and electrocardiogram（EEG） throughout surgery. Results：The anesthesia of all subjects was appropriate for surgery. With 0.5%, 0.75% ropivacaine, or 0.5%, 0.75% bupivacaine in the equivalent dosages, onset time, duration of sensory block, and the efficacy of motor block（mostly Bromage 3） was not significantly different between the groups（P 〉0.05）. Increasing the concentration of ropivacaine could leaded to a longer duration of motor block, especially in group R0.75（P〈0.01）. The cephalad dermatomal level of analgesia accessed by pinpricking was mostly T8-T10 for all groups. Because the difference between the peak or the valley ,and the baseline ,of SpO2, HR, BP, and PP was not statistically significant（P 〉 0.05）, the study drug didn＇t show obvious effects on haemodynamics. The minority of the patients, distributed among the four groups, complained of udnary retention after the operation.
Conclusions：The data from the patients undergoing lower abdominal or lower extremity surgery, who received lower anesthesia with 0.5%, 0.75% ropivacaine or 0.5%, 0.75% bupivacaine in the equivalent volumes respectively revealed that anesthetic efficiency could meet surgery demand. Onset time of the tow drugs, ropivacaine and bupivacaine, was similar at the equivalent concentrations, there was no difference in duration and efficacy of sensory and motor block, and in the cephalad spread degree of epidurel anesthetics, between ropivacaine and bupivacaine at the equal dosages. The higher concentrations of ropivacaine appeared to be obviously associated with a more prolonged duration of sensory block.     

Intrathecal midazolam added to bupivacaine improves the duration and quality of spinal anaesthesia

BACKGROUND: The antinociceptive action of intrathecal midazolam is well documented. In this prospective study, we investigated the addition of midazolam to intrathecal bupivacaine on the duration and quality of spinal blockade. METHODS: Forty ASA I or II adult patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery were selected for the study. The patients were randomly allocated to receive 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine intrathecally either alone or with 1 mg of midazolam using a combined spinal epidural technique. The duration and quality of sensory and motor block, perioperative analgesia, haemodynamic changes, and sedation levels were assessed. RESULTS: The duration of sensory block (i.e. time to regression to the S2 segment) was significantly longer in the midazolam group than the control group (218 min vs. 165 min; P < 0.001). The duration of motor block was also prolonged in the midazolam group as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In 90% of the patients in the midazolam group, the quality of block was adequate during the intra-operative period as compared with only 65% of the patients in the control group (P < 0.05). The duration of effective analgesia was longer in the midazolam group than in the control group (199 vs. 103 min; P < 0.001). Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation and sedation scores were comparable in both groups. No neurological deficit or other significant adverse effects were recorded. CONCLUSION: The addition of intrathecal midazolam to bupivacaine significantly improves the duration and quality of spinal anaesthesia and provides prolonged perioperative analgesia without significant side-effects.     

Addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine improves cervical plexus block

ObjectiveTo investigate the sensory block onset time, duration time, and side effects of adding dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine for cervical plexus block.MethodsForty American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class I or II adult patients who were scheduled to undergo thyroid surgery were randomly allocated to the following groups to receive cervical plexus block: 30 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine combined with 1 μg kg^?1 of dexmedetomidine; 30 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine combined with saline (control). The sensory block onset time, duration of analgesia, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and the incidences of side effects, such as hypotension, bradycardia, and hypoxemia were recorded.ResultsThe addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine (Group D) shortened the sensory block onset time compared with the ropivacaine group (Group C) (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.18–5.26; p < 0.05). The duration of analgesia of cervical plexus block in Group D was significantly longer than that in Group C (95% CI 295.96–311.12; p < 0.05). The Ramsay sedation score at 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after local anesthetic administration in Group D was significantly higher than that in Group C (p < 0.05). MAP level and HR level in Group D were significantly lower than that in Group C (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe addition of 1 μg kg^?1 dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine for cervical plexus block could shorten the sensory block onset time and extend the duration of analgesia, and increased the quality of analgesia, with the patients being sedated and arousable.     

Addition of fentanyl to prilocaine for intravenous regional anaesthesia

Fifteen volunteers underwent intravenous regional anaesthesia on two occasions using 40 ml 0.5% prilocaine, to which had been added either 2 ml 0.9% saline or 0.1 mg fentanyl (resultant concentration 2.5 micrograms/ml). There was no difference in the rate of onset of blockade of cold sensation from an ethyl chloride spray, or to sharp and touch pinprick sensation in either group. There was an increase in the incidence of nausea after tourniquet release in the fentanyl group. It is concluded that the addition of fentanyl 2.5 micrograms/ml to prilocaine 0.5% confers no benefit in intravenous regional anaesthesia.