Articles: postoperative-pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Patient-controlled on-demand epidural fentanyl. A comparison of patient-controlled on-demand fentanyl delivered epidurally or intravenously.
A prospective, open, clinical trial is described in which 20 patients having upper abdominal surgery were randomly allocated to receive fentanyl for postoperative analgesia by patient-controlled demand analgesic computer by either the epidural or intravenous route. Hourly pain, sedation and nausea scores were very similar in the two groups during the first 24 hours after surgery. What few differences there were favoured the epidural group. There was a highly significant difference in fentanyl consumption between the two groups, with the intravenous group demanding consistently more than twice as much as the epidural group.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
[The effect of continuous epidural infusion of a combination of 1% mepivacaine and buprenorphine for post-operative pain relief].
Using a portable 2 ml.hr-1 type infusor (Baxter Infusor), the effect of continuous epidural infusion for post-operative pain relief for 72 hours was studied in 32 patients after upper abdominal surgery. The patients were randomly allocated into four groups: Group 1 (n = 8) received continuous epidural infusion of 1% mepivacaine and buprenorphine 0.2 mg (48 ml.hr-1); group 2 (n = 8) 1% mepivacaine and buprenorphine 0.4 mg (48 ml.hr-1); Group 3 (n = 8) saline and buprenorphine 0.2 mg (48 ml.hr-1); Group 4 (n = 8) saline and buprenorphine 0.4 mg (48 ml.hr-1). The effect was evaluated at intervals of 12-hour until 72 hours postoperatively. ⋯ In each period during the 12 to 72-hour after operation, the percentage of the patients who needed no supplemental buprenorphine was 62.5-100%, which is higher than during the 0 to 12-hour (25.0%). The percentage of the patients who showed no pain on coughing and changing in position in Group 1 and 2 was higher than in Group 3 and 4 in each period (P less than 0.05 12-24 and 36-72 hr). Continuous epidural infusion using Baxter Infusor with the combination of 1% mepivacaine and buprenorphine is effective for alleviating postoperative pain during the 12 to 72 hours after the operation, and for prevention of pulmonary complications.
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New methods of postoperative pain control offer alternatives to traditional intramuscular injections of narcotic. One such method is patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), in which patients self-administer predetermined, controlled doses of intravenous narcotic "on demand." The PACU is a desirable unit in which to initiate PCA since pain is often acute in the immediate postanesthesia period. ⋯ PCA is often initiated and controlled by the anesthesia department in large institutions. However, at The Medical Center of Central Massachusetts-Memorial, the program was successfully implemented under the direction of the Nursing Department.
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Intrathecal morphine in an average dose of 0.01 mg/kg was given to 33 patients between ages 11 and 16 years who had spinal arthrodesis for idiopathic scoliosis. The morphine was administered intrathecally as a 10-cc bolus at the conclusion of the arthrodesis, but before closure. The goal was to study safety in terms of respiratory depression and pain relief. ⋯ It may be that the 10 cc bolus injected intrathecally circulates to the brain and ventricles faster than desired, or that factors relating to type of anesthesia or dose need to be considered. Low-dose intrathecal morphine does provide noticeable pain relief in younger patients undergoing spinal fusion. The side effects of nausea and respiratory depression can be managed safely with medication.