ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the efficacy of different analgesia regimens in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture undergoing posture changing during epidural anesthesia. Methods Ninety patients (35 males,55 females,aged 65-90 years,48-78 kg)with femoral neck fracture who would be treated with artificial femoral head replacement were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 30 each):femoral nerve block group (group FNB),fascia iliaca compartment block group (group FIC)and intravenous group (group IV).Femoral nerve block or fascia iliaca compart-ment block was performed 30 min before epidural anesthesia (EA)in FNB group or FIC group re-spectively.Fentanyl 0.5 μg/kg was injected intravenously 3 min before EA.In the three groups,addi-tional 0.25 μg/kg fentanyl was administrated intravenously to keep the VAS scores <4 before posi-tioning.EA was performed between L1-2 in a position of troubled leg upper,and patients returned to supine position after epidural catheterization.The VAS scores at T0 (after entering the operation room),T1 (in supine posture before EA),T2 (before posture changing),T3 (while supine from lateral posture after EA),T4 (3 min after T3 ),the time for achieving EA,the fentanyl consumption, the cases of cardiovascular events and hypoxemia was recorded.Results Compared with group IV, VAS scores at T1 ,T2 ,the fentanyl consumption,time for achieving EA,and incidence of cardiovas-cular events and hypoxemia in group FNB and group FIC decreased significantly (P <0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference between group FNB and group FIC.Conclusion Preemptive anal-gesia regimens through both femoral nerve block and fascia iliaca compartment block during epidural anesthesia can reduce the fentanyl consumption,as well as decrease the incidence of cardiovascular e-vents and hypoxemia.