Epidural butorphanol or morphine for the relief of post-cesarean section pain: ventilatory responses to carbon dioxide

To determine the safety, efficacy, and the ventilatory responses to carbon dioxide (CO2) of epidurally administered butorphanol or morphine, 122 healthy women who underwent cesarean section with epidural anesthesia were studied. Patients were randomly assigned to receive one of four epidural regimens for the relief of postoperative pain: 5 mg morphine (n = 32), 4 mg butorphanol (n = 30), 2 mg butorphanol (n = 29), or 1 mg butorphanol (n = 31). Epidural morphine provided satisfactory analgesia with slow onset and long duration of approximately 21 hr. When butorphanol was administered, analgesia of rapid onset was seen with increasing duration and effectiveness observed with increasing dose; approximately 8 hr when using 4 mg. Sixty-two percent of the patients who received morphine had pruritus. Somnolence was the main side effect encountered in patients who received epidural butorphanol. The ventilatory response to CO2 was depressed after morphine and after 2 and 4 mg butorphanol, but the duration of depression was more prolonged after morphine. It is concluded that epidural butorphanol is effective in providing pain relief after cesarean section with minor side effects. However, patients must be observed closely because of possible respiratory depression.     

Epidural dexamethasone reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirements

PURPOSE: Epidural steroids may have potential advantages for providing postoperative analgesia. We therefore undertook a study to evaluate the efficacy of epidurally administered dexamethasone in reducing postoperative morphine requirements, as a measure of analgesia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind study, 94 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 (Control) patients received dexamethasone 5 mg iv with epidural injection of 0.25% bupivacaine 8 mL and normal saline 2 mL, Group 2 (D1) patients received normal saline 2 mL iv with epidural injection of 0.25% bupivacaine 8 mL and dexamethasone 5 mg in normal saline 2 mL, and Group 3 (D2) patients received normal saline 2 mL iv with epidural injection of dexamethasone 5 mg in normal saline 10 mL. After surgery, morphine 2-4 mg iv was administered as needed for analgesia. Postoperative morphine requirements, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at rest and with effort, and time to first analgesic administration were recorded by a blinded observer. RESULTS: Total morphine consumption for the first 24 hr following surgery was lower in both epidural dexamethasone groups (D1, D2) compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The percentage reduction in morphine consumption in Group D1 was 53.9% and in Group D2 was 52.9% in the first 24 hr. Postoperatively at 12 hr, 18 hr and 24 hr, the VAS scores at rest and during effort were also lower in the epidural dexamethasone groups (D1, D2) compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The percentage reductions in VAS scores with effort at 12 hr, 18 hr and 24 hr in Group D1 were 50%, 52.9% and 50% respectively, and in Group D2 percentage reductions in pain scores with effort were 54.8%, 58.8% and 55.5% at corresponding sampling intervals. CONCLUSION: Preoperative epidural administration of dexamethasone 5 mg, with or without bupivacaine, reduces postoperative pain and morphine consumption following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.     

Epidural morphine: a clinical double-blind study of dosage

The purpose of this randomized double-blind study was to determine the optimal dose of epidural morphine by establishing a dose-effect relationship. The 139 patients, who had orthopedic operations on the lower extremities, received continuous lumbar epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine, 0.75%, with or without the addition of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 mg of morphine hydrochloride. Analgesia and side effects were determined during the first 24 hr postoperatively. In the 12-hr period after epidural anesthesia, arterial blood gas tensions were compared between those patients who received 5 mg morphine (n = 13) and those who received no morphine (n = 14). Patients who received 2 or more mg of morphine were less likely to require the administration of postoperative systemic analgesics (P less than 0.05). The addition of 2 or more mg of morphine to bupivacaine, 0.75%, reduced postoperative pain intensity (P less than 0.05); 5 mg of morphine reduced pain intensity for the longest time. Frequency of catheterization and pruritus increased dose-dependently. The mean PaCO2 after 5 mg of epidural morphine averaged 5 mm Hg higher than in the control group, indicating minor respiratory depression, better analgesia, or both. The dose of 3 mg of epidural morphine added to the local anesthetic is recommended for postoperative analgesia after surgery of the lower extremity; it is a compromise that provides adequate analgesia with an acceptably low frequency and intensity of side effects.     

Combined spinal epidural block versus spinal and epidural block for orthopaedic surgery

In a controlled study a single segment combined spinal epidural (CSE) block was compared with spinal or epidural block for major orthopaedic surgery. Seventy-five patients, age 52–86 yr, were randomly assigned to receive one of the three blocks. Bupivacaine 0.5% was used for surgical analgesia. The postoperative pain relief after 4.0 mg epidural morphine was compared with the analgesic effect of 0.2 or 0.4 mg morphine administered intrathecally. With the spinal technique good or excellent surgical analgesia and muscle relaxation were achieved rapidly (11.8 ± 1.1 min). The time taken to provide an equally effective and reliable block with the CSE technique was no longer (14.9 ± 2.2 min). For epidural block with the catheter technique more time was required (35.9 ± 3.9 min) to provide acceptable surgical conditions (P < 0.05). Perioperative sedatives and concomitant analgesics were required more frequently and in larger doses by the patients undergoing surgery with epidural block (P < 0.05) than with CSE or spinal block. Our study demonstrated that the analgesia after surgery provided by 0.2 and 0.4 mg morphine administered intrathecally was comparable to that provided by 4.0 mg of epidural morphine. It is concluded that the analgesia and surgical conditions provided by the spinal and CSE blocks were similar and were superior to those provided by an epidural block.     

Differential analgesic effects of low-dose epidural morphine and morphine-bupivacaine at rest and during mobilization after major abdominal surgery.

In a double-blind, randomized study, epidural infusions of low-dose morphine (0.2 mg/h) combined with low-dose bupivacaine (10 mg/h) were compared with epidural infusions of low-dose morphine (0.2 mg/h) alone for postoperative analgesia at rest and during mobilization and cough in 24 patients after elective major abdominal surgery. All patients in addition received systemic piroxicam (20 mg daily). No significant differences were observed between the groups at any assessment of pain at rest (P greater than 0.05), whereas pain in the morphine/bupivacaine group was significantly reduced during mobilization from the supine into the sitting position 12 and 30 h after surgical incision and during cough 8, 12, and 30 h after surgical incision (P less than 0.05). We conclude, that low-dose epidural bupivacaine potentiates postoperative low-dose epidural morphine analgesia during mobilization and cough. Evaluation of postoperative analgesic regimens should include assessment of pain during various activities as different analgesics may have differential effects on pain at rest and during mobilization.     

Postoperative analgesia in hip surgery A controlled comparison of epidural buprenorphine with intramuscular morphine

In a randomised controlled trial, epidural buprenorphine was compared with intramuscular morphine for postoperative analgesia in patients after hip surgery. Analgesia was given on demand and consisted of epidural boluses of 60 micrograms of buprenorphine in 10 ml of normal saline or intramuscular morphine 0.15 mg/kg. Both forms of analgesia produced excellent pain relief as assessed by the linear analogue scoring system. In both quality and duration of pain relief, no significant difference was found between the two forms of analgesia, but the total dose of epidural buprenorphine required was five times less than the equivalent dose of intramuscular morphine. No side effects attributable to epidural buprenorphine administration were found. The authors conclude that low dose epidural buprenorphine provides an excellent alternative to intramuscular opiates for pain relief after hip surgery.     

A comparative study of patient-controlled epidural fentanyl and single dose epidural morphine for post-caesarean analgesia

In a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study, 23 patients who had undergone Caesarean delivery under epidural anaesthesia were assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of patientcontrolled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with fentanyl compared with a single dose of epidural morphine for postoperative analgesia. Group A (n = 11) received epidural fentanyl 100 μg intraoperatively, then self-administered a maximum of two epidural fentanyl boluses 50 μg (10 μg · ml^?1) with a lockout period of five minutes for a maximum of two doses per hour. Group B (n = 11) received a single bolus of epidural morphine 3 mg (0.5 mg · ml^?1) intraoperatively and received the same instructions as Group A but had their PCA devices filled with 0.9% NaCl. Patients were assessed up to 24 hr for pain, satisfaction with pain relief, nausea and pruritus using visual analogue scales (VAS). The treatments for inadequate analgesia, nausea and pruritus as well as time to first independent ambulation were recorded. The ventilatory response to carbon dioxide challenge was measured at four and eight hours. Pain relief, satisfaction with pain relief, and the use of supplemental analgesics were similar in both groups. The mean 24 hr dose of epidural fentanyl used by group A patients was 680 μg. Pruritus was less common in Group A patients at the 8 and 24 hr observation periods (P < 0.0125). Both groups experienced the same degree of nausea and clinically unimportant respiratory depression. We conclude that PCEA with fentanyl provides analgesia equal to a single dose of epidural morphine and may be suitable for patients who have experienced considerable pruritus after epidural morphine adminstration.     

Postoperative epidural morphine for postpartum tubal ligation analgesia

Women undergoing postoperative postpartum tubal ligation (PPTL) often experience considerable pain. We hypothesized that epidural morphine, as part of a multi-modal analgesic regimen, would decrease postoperative pain and the need for systemic analgesia after PPTL. In a double-blinded study, patients were randomized to receive epidural saline or morphine 2 mg, 3 mg, or 4 mg after epidural anesthesia for PPTL. Postoperatively, ibuprofen 600 mg was administered every 6 h and patients could request acetaminophen 325 mg/hydrocodone 10 mg. The primary outcome variable was time to first request for supplemental analgesia. Verbal rating scores for pain and the incidence and severity of side effects were recorded for 24 h. Morphine group subjects requested supplemental analgesia later and received fewer doses compared with the saline group subjects. Peak cramping and incisional verbal rating scores for pain and the area under the verbal rating scores for pain x time curve for cramping pain were less after epidural morphine compared with saline, but there were no differences among morphine groups. Nausea, vomiting, and pruritus occurred more often in all morphine groups and subjects who received morphine 4 mg required treatment for these side effects more frequently than the saline or morphine 2 mg groups. In conclusion, epidural morphine 2 mg as part of a multi-modal analgesic regimen improved analgesia and decreased the need for supplemental analgesics after PPTL. The need to treat side effects with morphine 2 mg was not increased compared to a regimen of oral acetaminophen/opioid/nonsteroidal antiinflammatory analgesics.     

Does epidural fentanyl decrease the efficacy of epidural morphine after cesarean delivery?

Earlier studies have suggested that epidural fentanyl improves intraoperative analgesia during cesarean section, but others have suggested that it worsens postoperative analgesia from epidural morphine. The purpose of this study was to determine whether epidural fentanyl given before epidural morphine improves the quality of intraoperative epidural anesthesia without worsening postoperative analgesia provided by epidural morphine. Sixty patients having epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery were studied. Epidural anesthesia was established using 2% lidocaine with epinephrine 5 micrograms/mL. After delivery, either fentanyl 100 micrograms/10 mL or normal saline-control 10 mL was injected through the epidural catheter in a randomized, double-blind manner. All patients received 3.5 mg of morphine epidurally after uterine repair. After administration of the epidural study drug, there were no significant differences in the pain responses during surgery between the two groups. Patients in the fentanyl group experienced significantly less nausea and vomiting between delivery and the end of surgery than did patients in the normal saline-control group (P = 0.013). Postoperatively, visual analogue scale scores for pain, pruritus, nausea, and sedation were similar at 1, 2, 4, and 8 h in the two groups. We conclude that fentanyl 100 micrograms administered epidurally during cesarean delivery did not improve intraoperative analgesia, but significantly reduced intraoperative nausea and vomiting without diminishing the efficacy of postoperative analgesia provided by epidural morphine.     

Continuous epidural infusion of morphine for pain relief after cardiac operations

Postoperative pain relief and stress hormones were examined during the use of continuous epidural infusion of morphine at a rate of 0.1 mg/hr in 30 patients (Group B) after coronary artery bypass grafting. This was compared to our routine method of postoperative analgesia of intravenous morphine 2 mg/2 hr and as needed in another 30 patients (Group A). Continuous epidural morphine infusion required occasional supplementation with intravenous morphine and achieved effective analgesia in 80% of the patients. Pain relief was adequate in 50% of the patients in Group A. The mean dose of morphine used in Group B during the first 3 postoperative days was 5 mg per patient per day and was significantly lower than that used in Group A (mean 18 mg per patient per day). Serum morphine was undetectable (below 2.5 ng/ml) in Group B and was significantly lower than that in Group A (17 ng/ml). Epidural analgesia was associated with adequate postoperative pulmonary and cardiovascular functions; nausea and vomiting occurred in two patients. Levels of postoperative stress, serum cortisol, and beta-endorphin were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A. This study shows that continuous epidural infusion of morphine at a rate of 0.1 mg/hr provides selective and effective pain relief and reduces postoperative stress after cardiac operations. This method of analgesia was also associated with minimal side effects and provides an alternate approach for treatment of pain after cardiac operations.     

Epidural ketamine for postoperative pain relief after gynecologic operations: a double-blind study and comparison with epidural morphine

This double-blind study evaluates whether ketamine given epidurally is effective for postoperative pain relief, and compares the effects of epidural ketamine with those of epidural morphine. Sixty-eight patients undergoing abdominal gynecologic surgery were randomly assigned into six groups (control; ketamine 4, 6, and 8 mg in saline; 6 mg in 10% glucose; morphine 3 mg). All patients were anesthetized with thiopental, nitrous oxide, and enflurane, and drugs were administered epidurally at the end of the operation. The duration of analgesia in the ketamine groups did not differ from that in control patients and the difference in diluent had no observable effects. Significantly, none of the patients in the morphine group needed additional analgesics within 24 hr, whereas 85% in the other five groups did. We conclude that ketamine administered epidurally is inadequate for postoperative pain relief after gynecologic operations.     

Preoperative epidural ketamine in combination with morphine does not have a clinically relevant intra- and postoperative opioid-sparing effect

In this prospective, randomized, and double-blinded clinical trial, we evaluated the efficacy of preincisional administration of epidural ketamine with morphine compared with epidural morphine alone for postoperative pain relief after major upper-abdominal surgery. We studied 50 ASA I and II patients undergoing major upper-abdominal procedures. These patients were randomly allocated to one of the two treatment groups: patients in Group 1 received epidural morphine 50 microg/kg, whereas those in Group 2 received epidural ketamine 1 mg/kg combined with 50 microg/kg of morphine 30 min before incision. Intraoperative analgesia was provided in addition, with IV morphine, and the requirement was noted. A blinded observer using a visual analog scale for pain assessment observed patients for 48 h after surgery. Additional doses of epidural morphine were provided when the visual analog scale score was more than 4. Analgesic requirements and side effects were compared between the two groups. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to age, sex, weight, or duration or type of the surgical procedures. The intraoperative morphine requirement was significantly (P = 0.018) less in Group 2 patients (median, 6.8 mg; range, 3-15 mg) compared with patients in Group 1 (median, 8.3 mg; range, 4.5-15 mg). The time for the first requirement of analgesia was significantly (P = 0.021) longer (median, 17 h; range, 10-48 h) in Group 2 patients than in Group 1 (median, 12 h; range, 4-36 h). The total number of supplemental doses of epidural morphine required in the first 48 h after surgery was comparable (P = 0.1977) in both groups. Sedation scores were similar in both groups. One patient in Group 2 developed hallucinations after study drug administration. None of the patients in either group developed respiratory depression. Other side effects, such as pruritus, nausea, and vomiting, were also similar in both groups. Although the addition of ketamine had synergistic analgesic effects with morphine (reduced intraoperative morphine consumption and prolonged time for first requirement of analgesia), there was no long- lasting preemptive benefit seen with this combination (in terms of reduction in supplemental analgesia) for patients undergoing major upper-abdominal procedures. IMPLICATIONS: Ketamine added to epidural morphine given before surgery can decrease postoperative pain by its preemptive effect, opioid potentiation, and prevention of acute opioid tolerance. A single epidural bolus of 1 mg/kg of ketamine with morphine given before major upper-abdominal surgery did not result in a clinically relevant reduction in postoperative pain relief.     

Continuous epidural infusion of morphine for treatment of pain after thoracic surgery: a new technique

We evaluated postoperative pain relief and the incidence of side effects of three methods of thoracic epidural analgesia. Ninety patients, divided into three equal groups, received postoperative analgesia after thoracic surgery either as intermittent epidural injections of bupivacaine (25 mg/5 ml, 0.5% solution) as needed, or, intermittent epidural injections of morphine (5 mg/5 ml of normal saline, 0.1% solution) as needed, or continuous epidural infusion of morphine (0.1 mg, in 1 ml of normal saline) per hour supplemented with intravenous morphine (2 mg) upon request. Pain relief was evaluated by each patient on a pain scale visual analogue and by pain relief questionnaire for a period of 72 hr. Postoperative pain relief was achieved equally with these three methods of epidural analgesia in all patients with no significant difference between groups. Intermittent epidural injection of bupivacaine relieved pain for 4.9 +/- 1.9 (SD) hr/injection and was associated with urinary retention in all patients, with numbness and weakness of the hands in 12 patients, and with severe hypotension in 7 patients. Intermittent epidural injection of morphine relieved pain for 5.8 +/- 2.3 hr/injection and was associated with urinary retention in all patients, with pruritus in 12 patients, and with central narcosis and respiratory depression in 8 patients. Continuous epidural infusion of morphine with occasional intravenous morphine (2 mg) supplementation also effectively relieved postoperative pain and was associated with minimal systemic side effects. One patient complained of pruritus, and two patients developed urinary retention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

硬膜外单次剂量缓释吗啡（DepoDur^TM）与硬膜外普通吗啡用于剖宫产术后镇痛的比较

背景椎管内单次剂量硫酸吗啡可以为剖宫产术后提供良好的镇痛；但是，其疗效仅限于手术后l天。在近期的一项Ⅲ期研究中，与常规硬膜外吗啡相比，缓释硬膜外吗啡（EREM）为剖宫产手术后提供了更有效、更长时间的镇痛。然而，该研究方案不允许使用非甾体抗炎药物（NSAIDs），却使用了多种手术后镇痛药物，对于呼吸抑制的监测和治疗也没有标准化。我们进行本研究的目的是在更具代表性的妇科临床条件下，比较在剖宫产手术后使用EREM与硬膜外普通吗啡，两者在术后镇痛药用量、疼痛评分及副作用方面的差异。方法这项随机、双盲研究中纳入了70例接受择期剖宫产手术的健康产妇。采用腰．硬联合阻滞技术，蛛网膜下腔注入布比卡因12mg和芬太尼10斗g。在关闭腹膜后，硬膜外单次注射普通吗啡4mg或EREM10mg。所有患者手术后每6小时口服布洛芬600mg，如果出现爆发痛，可口服氢考酮或者静脉注射吗啡。手术后48小时内，监测患者的脉搏氧饱和度和呼吸情况。结果无论在静息时还是活动状态，单剂EREM均可显著改善疼痛评分。EREM组与常规硬膜外吗啡组相比，剖宫产手术后48小时内追加的阿片类药物用量（以吗啡等效剂量表示）中位数（四分位数间距）由17（22）mg降至10（17）mg（P=0．037）。两组药物均有良好耐受性且在不良反应方面无明显差异。结论EREM与普通吗啡相比，能够为剖宫产术后提供更好更持久的镇痛，而不良反应未见明显增加。     

Plasma catecholamine levels following continuous epidural infusion of morphine for postoperative analgesia in surgical patients

Plasma catecholamine levels were measured to evaluate postoperative pain relief either with epidural morphine or systemic analgesics in sixteen patients who underwent gastrectomy. Eight patients (epidural morphine group) obtained postoperative analgesia with continuous epidural morphine with a pump (CADD-PCA, Model 5200P, Pharmacia). A bolus of morphine was administered through an indwelling thoracic (Th8 X 9) epidural catheter 3 hrs prior to the proposed end of the surgery, which was followed with continuous epidural infusion of morphine at a rate of 0.167-0.042mg.hr-1 by the pump during and after anesthesia and surgery with gradual decrease in dose until the third postoperative day. The remaining eight patients (systemic analgesics group) received repeatedly intravenous or intramuscular pentazocine and buprenorphine when needed. Plasma epinephrine levels increased significantly at the end of surgery in both groups, and were higher in the systemic analgesics group than those in the epidural morphine group. In the epidural morphine group, the catecholamine levels decreased to the previous day's levels on the first postoperative day and afterward, but remained high during three postoperative days in the systemic analgesics group. Plasma norepinephrine levels increased significantly at the end of surgery and afterward in both groups. However, they were significantly higher in the systemic analgesics group than in the epidural morphine group. Plasma dopamine levels were unchanged in the epidural morphine group during the surgical procedures, but they increased significantly on the first postoperative day and thereafter in the systemic analgesics group. Our study suggests that continuous epidural infusion of morphine is adequate for postoperative pain relief and exerts a suppressing effect on plasma catecholamine levels as compared with systemic analgesics regimen.     

Preoperative infiltration of the surgical area enhances postoperative analgesia of a combined low–dose epidural bupivacaine and morphine regimen after upper abdominal surgery

In a randomized, blinded trial we assessed the value of adding preoperative infiltration of the surgical area with bupivacaine to a low dose epidural regimen for postoperative pain treatment. Forty–nine patients scheduled for major upper abdominal surgery during combined thoracic epidural (bupivacaine + morphine) and general anaesthesia were studied. Postoperative analgesia was epidural bupivacaine 10 mg hr^-1 + morphine 0.2 mg hr^-1 for 72 h. The patients randomly received preoperative infiltration of the surgical area with bupivacaine 0.25%, 40 ml (group I); or no infiltration (group II). Pain was evaluated at rest, during cough and during mobilization six and eight h after start of surgery, and at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the following days until 72 h after start of surgery. The sensory level of analgesia was evaluated by pin prick. We found no difference between the two groups during rest and cough. However, during mobilization group I had lower pain scores compared to group II ( P < 0.05). There was a significant reduction in the need for supplemental intramuscular morphine in the treatment group compared to the control group ( P <0.05). Thus an enhanced analgesic effect was demonstrated by adding preoperative infiltration of the surgical area with local anaesthetic to a low dose epidural bupivacaine/morphine regimen after upper abdominal surgery.     

A comparison of the analgesic efficacy of 0.25% levobupivacaine combined with 0.005% morphine, 0.25% levobupivacaine alone, or 0.005% morphine alone for the management of postoperative pain in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery

We compared the relative efficacy of the combination of the single-isomer local anesthetic levobupivacaine and the opioid analgesic morphine versus both drugs alone for postoperative epidural analgesia after major abdominal surgical procedures. Thoracic epidural anesthesia was produced and maintained with levobupivacaine 0.75% in combination with general inhaled anesthesia without opioids. Patients were randomized to one of three postoperative treatment groups: 1) a combination of levobupivacaine 0.25% and morphine 0.005%; 2) levobupivacaine 0.25%; or 3) morphine 0.005%. Postoperatively, all epidural infusions were commenced at a rate of 4 mL/h. Patients could receive a 4 mL-bolus dose and an increase in the epidural infusion rate by 2 mL/h on request for supplemental analgesia. Patients were also allowed ketorolac as a supplemental analgesic at any time after the first analgesic request. Patients in the combination group had longer times to request for supplemental analgesia as compared with the levobupivacaine only group (P < 0.05) and a trend toward longer time to request as compared with the morphine only group (P = 0.066). Patients in the combination group had lower visual analog scale pain scores at rest and activity at 4 and 8 h and fewer requests for supplemental ketorolac (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates a significant improvement in postoperative analgesic efficacy with the combination of levobupivacaine and morphine for continuous epidural analgesia after major abdominal surgical procedures. IMPLICATIONS: A significant improvement in postoperative analgesic efficacy is demonstrated with the thoracic epidural administration of the combination of the single-isomer local anesthetic levobupivacaine 0.25% and morphine 0.005% in patients after major abdominal surgical procedures as compared with either drug used alone.     

Pre-emptive analgesia with ketamine, morphine and epidural lidocaine prior to total knee replacement

Purpose

Pre-emptive analgesia can improve postoperative pain management. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of ketamine as a pre-emptive analgesic as previous studies have shown the involvement of N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor in neuroplasticity.

Methods

Forty-five ASA 1–2 patients, undergoing unilateral total knee replacement were studied. In the study groups, epidural lidocaine was used as the primary anaesthestic. Patients received ketamine + morphine epidurally 30 min either before (group EB) or after skin incision (group EA). Group G patients received general anaesthesia and ketamine + morphine were given 30 min after skin incision via an epidural catheter used for postoperative pain control. Epidural morphine and ketamine in lidocaine was given to all patients at the end of surgery and every 12 hr for three days for analgesia supplemented with PCA morphine. The time until first PCA trigger, morphine consumption, pain scores, satisfaction scores, and morphine related side effects were recorded at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hr after surgery.

Results

Epidural ketamine plus morphine with lidocaine before surgical incision produced better pain relief and patient satisfaction than when given after incision. A longer time to PCA and decreased morphine consumption were observed in group EB than in group G. In group EA, epidural anaesthesia also produced some pre-emptive analgesic effect compared with general anaesthesia shown by decreased morphine consumption.

Conclusions

Administration of ketamine plus morphine with epidural lidocaine anaesthesia before surgery provided improved postoperative analgesia compared with general anaesthesia alone or when analgesics were given after skin incision.     

Lumbar epidural morphine for postoperative analgesia in children undergoing Nuss procedure

BACKGROUND: We examined the effects of lumbar epidural morphine for postoperative analgesia in children after the Nuss procedure for funnel chest. METHODS: An epidural catheter was inserted from the L 3-4 interspace preoperatively (epidural group). Epidural morphine 30 microg x kg(-1) was given at the beginning of the operation. Postoperatively, epidural morphine 3 microg x kg(-1) x hr(-1) was infused. The frequency of demand for postoperative analgesia was retrospectively compared with that of children who had not received epidural morphine (control group). RESULTS: On the 0th postoperative day, the epidural group required fewer analgesics than the control group (0.50+/-0.30 vs. 2.50+/-1.00 x day(-1)). However, after the 1st postoperative day, the demand for analgesia did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural morphine 30 microg x kg(-1) given at the beginning of operation provided effective analgesia on the 0th postoperative day after the Nuss procedure. However, epidural infusion of morphine 3 microg x kg(-1) x hr(-1) was not effective after the 1st postoperative day. Further study is needed to determine the lumbar epidural infusion dose of morphine adequate for use after the Nuss procedure.     

Epidural clonidine analgesia after cesarean section

Epidurally administered clonidine has been reported to produce postoperative analgesia. To assess the efficacy, safety, and appropriate dose of epidural clonidine for post-cesarean section analgesia, we designed a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Sixty women were randomly assigned to receive epidural administration of saline bolus followed by 24-h saline infusion, 400-micrograms clonidine bolus followed by 10 micrograms/h clonidine infusion, or 800-micrograms clonidine bolus followed by 20 micrograms/h clonidine infusion. Supplemental analgesia was provided with patient-controlled iv morphine. Compared to saline, both clonidine regimens produced analgesia, as measured by verbal pain scores and supplemental iv morphine use during the first 6 h after bolus injection. Time to first morphine use was similar for both clonidine groups and significantly greater than saline. However, compared to saline, only the 20 micrograms/h clonidine infusion resulted in decreased morphine usage over the entire 24-h period. Compared to saline, both clonidine doses decreased blood pressure. This decrease was greater in the 400-micrograms than in the 800-micrograms clonidine group, but no patient required treatment for hypotension. Clonidine decreased heart rate (one patient required atropine for asymptomatic bradycardia) and produced transient sedation. The 800-micrograms clonidine dose prolonged resolution of local anesthetic-induced motor blockade compared to saline. The results suggest that epidurally administered clonidine provides analgesia, as measured by decreased need for supplemental morphine, after cesarean section, but continuous infusion is required for analgesia of more than 6 h duration.