Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Epidural lidocaine with sufentanil and epinephrine for abdominal hysterectomy under general anaesthesia: respiratory depression and postoperative analgesia.
The purpose of this investigation was to compare the analgesic actions and side-effects of a 50 micrograms epidural bolus of sufentanil and 50 micrograms epinephrine, with a control group receiving saline and epinephrine. The method employed was a prospective, randomised, double-blind trial involving 40 ASA I or II patients for total abdominal hysterectomy. All received 1.5% lidocaine with 1/200,000 epinephrine epidurally before operation, until a block to T4 was established. ⋯ Glycopyrollate was given to 11/20 patients in the sufentanil group vs 1/20 in the control group (P less than 0.01) following bradycardia and hypotension. Clinical respiratory depression occurred in the sufentanil group; 5/20 patients required controlled ventilation following apnoea greater than 20 sec. It is concluded that epidural sufentanil causes considerable cardiorespiratory depression in the setting of general anaesthesia, and should be used with caution in the spontaneously breathing, anaesthetised patient.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Patient-controlled lumbar epidural fentanyl compared with patient-controlled intravenous fentanyl for post-thoracotomy pain.
Thirty-four patients undergoing thoracotomy were entered into a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to compare the effects of patient-controlled, lumbar epidural (PCA-E) fentanyl with patient-controlled intravenous (PCA-i.v.) fentanyl with respect to drug requirements, analgesic efficacy and respiratory function. Prior to chest closure patients received fentanyl 2 micrograms.kg-1 by the epidural or i.v. route. In the recovery room further doses of epidural or i.v. fentanyl, 50 micrograms, were administered by the patients who controlled two PCA pumps. ⋯ There were no differences between groups in respiratory rates, PaCO2, VAS pain scores or changes in pulmonary function as measured by FVC and FEV1. It is concluded that satisfactory patient-controlled analgesia can be achieved with both epidural and i.v. fentanyl after thoracotomy but that fentanyl requirements are less when given via the epidural route. This supports a direct spinal cord site of action for lumbar epidural fentanyl.