Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialIntrathecal morphine for postpartum tubal ligation postoperative analgesia.
Intrathecal morphine (ITM) provides effective postoperative cesarean delivery analgesia but has not been reported for postoperative postpartum tubal ligation (PPTL) analgesia. We designed this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study to determine the efficacy of 100 microg ITM for postoperative PPTL analgesia. Sixty-six women received spinal anesthesia with 60 mg (1.2 mL) of 5% hyperbaric lidocaine, 10 microg (0.2 mL) of fentanyl, and either 0.2 mL of 0.9% saline (normal saline; NS) or 100 microg (0.2 mL) of morphine (morphine sulfate, MS). Postoperative analgesia was limited to patient-controlled IV analgesia morphine. Six women (three NS and three MS) were excluded because of major protocol violations. Twenty-four-hour patient-controlled IV analgesia morphine use was (mean +/- SD) 39.6 +/- 19.6 mg in the NS group and 1.1 +/- 2.5 mg in the MS group (P < 0.0000001). Visual analog scale scores for crampy and incisional pain (rest and movement) were significantly higher in the NS group compared with the MS group at 4, 8, 12, and 24 h (P < 0.001). The adverse effect profile was similar between groups. Visual analog scale satisfaction scores (mean +/- SD) were 96.6 +/- 16.0 in the MS group and 84.2 +/- 23.6 in NS group (P < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that women experience significant postoperative pain after PPTL surgery, and this pain is effectively obviated by 100 microg ITM. ⋯ This investigation documents the extent of the significant postoperative pain experienced by women after routine postpartum tubal ligation surgery and demonstrates the efficacy of a small dose (100 microg) of intrathecal morphine to obviate this pain with minimal adverse effects.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2001
Meta AnalysisEpidural analgesia reduces postoperative myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis.
Postoperative cardiac morbidity and mortality continue to pose considerable risks to surgical patients. Postoperative epidural analgesia is considered to have beneficial effects on cardiac outcomes. The use in high-risk cardiac patients remains controversial. No study has shown that postoperative epidural analgesia decreases postoperative myocardial infarction (PMI) or death. All studies are underpowered to show such a result, and the cost of conducting a large trial is prohibitive. We performed a metaanalysis to determine whether postoperative epidural analgesia continued for more than 24 h after surgery reduces PMI or in-hospital death. The available databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of epidural analgesia that was extended at least 24 h into the postoperative period. The search yielded 17 studies, of which 11 were randomized controlled trials comprising 1173 patients. Metaanalysis was conducted by using the fixed-effects model, calculating both an odds ratio and a rate difference. Postoperative epidural analgesia resulted in better analgesia for the first 24 h after surgery. The rate of PMI was 6.3%, with lower rates in the Epidural group (rate difference, -3.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI] -7.4%, -0.2%; P = 0.049). The frequency of in-hospital death was 3.3%, with no significant difference between Epidural and Nonepidural groups (rate difference, -1.3%; 95% CI, -3.8%, 1.2%, P = 0.091). Subgroup analysis of postoperative thoracic epidural analgesia showed a significant reduction in PMI in the Epidural group (rate difference, -5.3%; 95% CI, -9.9%, -0.7%; P = 0.04). ⋯ Postoperative epidural analgesia, especially thoracic epidural analgesia, continued for more than 24 h reduces postoperative myocardial infarctions.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA new posterior approach to the sciatic nerve block: a prospective, randomized comparison with the classic posterior approach.
To evaluate the efficacy and acceptance of a new posterior subgluteus approach to the sciatic nerve, as compared with the classic posterior approach, 128 patients undergoing foot orthopedic procedures were randomly allocated to receive either the classic posterior sciatic nerve block (Group Labat, n = 64) or a modified subgluteus posterior approach (Group subgluteus, n = 64). All blocks were performed with the use of a nerve stimulator (stimulation frequency, 2 Hz; intensity, 1-0.5 mA). In Group subgluteus, a line was drawn from the greater trochanter to the ischial tuberosity; then, from the midpoint of this line, a second line was drawn perpendicularly and extended caudally for 4 cm. The end of this line represented the needle entry. In both groups, a proper sciatic stimulation was elicited at 0.5 mA; then 20 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine was injected. The time from needle insertion to successful sciatic nerve stimulation was 60 s (range, 10-180 s) with the Labat's approach and 32 s (range, 5-120 s) with the new subgluteus approach (P = 0.0005). The depth of appropriate sciatic stimulation was 45 +/- 13 mm (mean +/- SD) after 2 (range, 1-7) needle redirections in Group subgluteus and 67 +/- 12 mm after 4 (range, 1-10) needle redirections in Group Labat (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.00001, respectively). The failure rate was similar in both groups. Severe discomfort during the procedure was less frequent and acceptance better in Group subgluteus (5 patients [8%] and 60 patients [94%], respectively) than in Group Labat (20 patients [31%] and 49 patients [77%], respectively) (P = 0.0005 and P = 0.005, respectively). We conclude that this new subgluteus posterior approach to the sciatic nerve is an easy and reliable technique and can be considered an effective alternative to the more traditional Labat's approach. ⋯ Evaluating the efficacy and acceptance of a new approach to the sciatic nerve block, this prospective, randomized study demonstrated that the new subgluteus posterior approach is an easy and reliable technique and can be considered an useful alternative to the more traditional Labat's approach in patients undergoing foot surgery, facilitating the performance of the sciatic nerve blocks.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialMusic decreases sedative requirements during spinal anesthesia.
Ambulatory surgery can create significant anxiety. This prospective study measured whether music can influence anxiety and perioperative sedative requirements in outpatients undergoing surgery with spinal anesthesia. We also evaluated the correlation between two anxiety measures, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory test (STAI) and the 0- to 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS 0-10), with 0 meaning complete relaxation and 10 the worst feeling of anxiety possible. Fifty unpremedicated patients were randomly assigned to listen to music of their choice via headset during the perioperative period (Group I) or to have no music (Group II). All participants used patient-controlled IV midazolam sedation and underwent repeated evaluations of their anxiety level with the STAI and the VAS 0-10. Midazolam requirements during surgery (Group I, 0.6 +/- 0.7 versus Group II, 1.3 +/- 1.1 mg; P < 0.05) and for the whole perioperative period (Group I, 1.2 +/- 1.3 versus Group II, 2.5 +/- 2.0 mg; P < 0.05) were smaller in patients listening to music. Anxiety levels, measured with STAI or VAS 0-10, were similar in both groups. The Spearman's coefficient values between STAI and VAS 0-10 ranged from 0.532 to 0.687. We conclude that patients listening to music require less midazolam to achieve a similar degree of relaxation as controls and that measures of anxiety obtained from the STAI and the VAS 0-10 are positively, but only moderately, correlated. ⋯ It is possible to decrease sedative requirements during surgery under spinal anesthesia by allowing patients to listen to music to reduce their anxiety.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe influence of a bupivacaine and fentanyl epidural infusion after epidural fentanyl in patients allowed to ambulate in early labor.
Epidural fentanyl after a lidocaine and epinephrine test dose provides adequate analgesia and allows for ambulation during early labor. This study was designed to determine the influence of an epidural infusion of bupivacaine plus fentanyl administered after initiation of epidural labor analgesia with fentanyl. Specifically, we evaluated whether there is an increase in motor block or an increased time to request for further analgesic medication. Fifty-one laboring primigravid women at <5 cm cervical dilation who requested epidural analgesia were enrolled. After a 3-mL epidural test dose of 1.5% lidocaine with epinephrine (5 microg/mL), patients received fentanyl 100 microg via the epidural catheter. They then randomly received either an infusion (10 mL/h) of 0.0625% bupivacaine with fentanyl (3 microg/mL) or an infusion of preservative-free saline. After the administration of the initial analgesic, pain scores and side effects were recorded for each patient at 10, 20, and 30 min, every 30 min thereafter, and at the time of request for additional analgesic medication, by an observer blinded to the technique used. There were no demographic differences between the two groups. The mean duration of analgesia (time from initial dose to request for additional analgesia) was increased in the group that received a continuous infusion of bupivacaine and fentanyl compared with the Saline group (198 +/- 86 vs 145 +/- 50 min; P < 0.009). Side effects were similar between the two groups. No patient in either group experienced any detectable motor block. Fourteen patients chose to ambulate in the Saline group, and 12 patients chose to ambulate in the Infusion group. In early laboring patients, a continuous infusion of 0.0625% bupivacaine infusion with fentanyl (3 microg/mL) prolonged the duration until top-up was required, after epidural fentanyl 100 microg after a lidocaine and epinephrine test dose, and did not cause any clinically detectable motor block. ⋯ A 0.0625% bupivacaine and fentanyl (3 microg/mL) infusion, when added to epidural fentanyl (100 microg), prolongs the analgesic duration without increasing motor block in women in early labor.