Articles: analgesia.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe pharmacokinetics of continuous epidural sufentanil and bupivacaine infusion after thoracotomy.
In a double-blind, randomized study in patients undergoing thoracic surgery the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pharmacokinetics of the epidural sufentanil were studied by using radioimmunoassay analysis. Sufentanil was given as an infusion (1 microgram/mL) at the lumbar (Ls; n = 11), or thoracic (Ts; n = 12) level, or epidural sufentanil combined with bupivacaine (1 mg/ mL) at the thoracic level (Tsb; n = 14). Postoperatively, the infusion was adjusted to optimize analgesia. ⋯ The terminal elimination half-life of sufentanil in CSF was 7.2 +/- 0.6 h. During steady state the CSF concentrations were not homogeneously distributed and they were higher than those in plasma. These pharmacokinetic findings support the concept that epidural sufentanil analgesia is optimal when administered segmentally and tailored to the surgical incision.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Aug 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of continuous epidural sufentanil and bupivacaine infusion after thoracotomy.
We investigated analgesia and the adverse effects of epidural sufentanil infusion in a double-blind randomized study of 37 patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Sufentanil 1 microgram/mL was administered at a thoracic (Ts, n = 12) or lumbar level (Ls, n = 11), or combined with bupivacaine 1 mg/mL at a thoracic level (Tsb, n = 14). Postoperatively, the epidural infusion rate was titrated (4-20 mL/h) according to the visual analog pain scale when assessed during function (VAS-F) or the occurrence of side effects. ⋯ The slopes of the ventilatory response (minute ventilation [VE], inspiratory flow, and mouth occlusion pressure at 0.1 s [P0.1]) to 7% CO2 decreased during treatment in Ls, Ts, and Tsb groups at the most by 73%, 55%, and 52% (not significant [NS] between groups), 59%, 45%, and 38% (NS between groups), and 81%, 43%, and 18% (Ls > Tsb), respectively. Twenty-four hours after discontinuation of the epidural infusion, there was a complete recovery of the VE, inspiratory flow, and P0.1 response to CO2 in the Tsb group only. The study shows that, after thoracotomy, epidural sufentanil analgesia is optimal when tailored to the site of nociceptive input and combined with bupivacaine.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Perioperative ischaemia in aortic surgery: combined epidural/general anaesthesia and epidural analgesia vs general anaesthesia and i.v. analgesia.
The goal of this randomized study was to determine whether combined general and epidural anaesthesia with postoperative epidural analgesia, compared with general anaesthesia and postoperative intravenous analgesia, reduced the incidence of perioperative myocardial ischaemia in patients undergoing elective aortic surgery. ⋯ Combined general and epidural anaesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia do not reduce the incidence of myocardial ischaemia or morbidity compared with general anaesthesia and postoperative intravenous analgesia.
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The purpose of this investigation was to determine, through current research in the literature, if a background basal infusion should routinely be used to improve the efficacy of traditional-demand patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and would the safety of the PCA technique be maintained with the addition of a continuous infusion. Of the nine studies investigating PCA with and without continuous infusion, six found no improvement in pain control with the addition of a continuous infusion. ⋯ Many studies reported an increased incidence of side effects with the addition of a continuous infusion. This modality of PCA should be reserved for use in patients in whom traditional-demand PCA does not satisfy analgesic requirements.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of varying intravenous patient-controlled analgesia dose and lockout interval while maintaining a constant hourly maximum dose.
To investigate the effect on the use of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) of varying the dose (D) and lockout interval (LI) while keeping the hourly maximum dose constant. ⋯ The use of 1.0 mg with a 6-minute lockout may represent appropriate dose titration because this group obtained equivalent analgesia, morphine use, and side effects as the two larger dose and lockout groups. However, the increased number of PCA attempts and missed attempts may reflect lower satisfaction with PCA therapy.