A Comparison of the Analgesic and Side Effects of Continuous Epidural Morphine and Nalbuphine after a Cesarean Section / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Epidural morphine has been commonly used to provide postoperative pain relief, but it has many side effects such as pruritus, nausea, vomiting, and respiratory depression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and side effects of epidural morphine compared with epidural nalbuphine. METHODS: Fifty nine patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. For group M (n = 30), a bolus of 7 ml of saline and 2 mg of morphine were administered and for group N (n = 29), a bolus of 7 ml of saline and 4 mg of nalbuphine were administered. Continuous epidural analgesia was induced with morphine 4 mg, 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml, 2% lidocaine 20 ml and normal saline 60 ml by a 2day infuser in group M, and with nalbuphine 20 mg, 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml, 2% lidocaine 20 ml and normal saline 58 ml by a 2day infuser in group N. We compared the analgesic effect and side effects of the two groups for 48 hours. RESULTS: No significant hemodynamic changes were seen in any of the groups. The analgesic effects were good in the two groups (mean VAS < 3.0). The patients of group M had lower pain scores continually compared with group N and pain scores were statistically significant at 6, 12 and 24 hours. However, side effects occurred more frequently in group M. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an adequate dosage of epidural morphine provides good analgesic effects and reduces the occurrence of side effects.

Effect of Intravenous Clonidine-Fentanyl on Prevention of Postepidural Shivering / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous clonidine-fentanyl to prevent postepidural shivering in patients undergoing an elective orthopedic surgery. METHODS: Forty ASA class 1 or 2 patients who received epidural anesthesia for an orthopedic surgery were allocated randomly to two groups. 10 min before epidural anesthesia group 1 received intravenous clonidine 2.0ng/kg and group 2 received clonidine 1.0ng/kg and fentanyl 1.0ng/kg shivering was determined objectively by observing involuntary muscle activity. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate and sedation score were measured at 5 minute intervals during the first 30 minutes following epidural anesthesia. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in the occurrence of shivering, hemodynamic changes and sedation score. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous clonidine 2.0ng/kg and the combination of clonidine 1.0ng/kg and fentanyl 1.0ng/kg were not significantly different in occurrence of postepidural shivering. Therefore, a combination of small doses of intravenous clonidine and fentanyl may be safe and useful to reduce postepidural shivering.

Comparison between Combined Epidural-General Anesthesia and General Anesthesia for Total Hip Replacement / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Surgical repair of a hip fracture and a total hip replacement (THR) are mostly performed in elderly patients. The overall perioerative mortality is 0.5 to 1.0%, for which one of the common causes is pulmonary embolism during the postoperative period. A number of studies have demonstrated reduction in both perioperative blood loss and incidence of postoperative thromboembolism after a total hip replacement with spinal or epidural anesthesia. However a regional technique is often inappropriate for the patient scheduled for a THR because of the long operating time, the positioning and the manipulation required during the procedure. Even though combined epidural-general anesthesia may offer advantages for the patient undergoing a THR, until now the effects of such a technique for a THR have not been reported. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of general anesthesia (GA) and combined epidural-general anesthesia (CEGA) on blood loss, incidence of postoperative thromboembolism and effective postoperative pain control on patients undergoing a THR. METHODS: Thirty cases of both GA and CEGA for a THR performed at the department of anesthesiology, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital from Jan. to Dec. 1999 were selected. The surgical time, volume of intravenous fluid infusion during the operation, intraoperative and postoperative transfusion volume, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, postoperative blood loss, use of postoperative analgesics, and incidence of postoperative thromboembolism were measured. RESULTS: Surgical time, volume of intravenous fluid administration during the operation and the use of postoperative analgesics was significaltly less in the group CEGA (P < 0.05). Mean values of intraoperative and postoperative transfusion volume, differences between preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin and postoperative blood loss were less in the CEGA group than in GA group. However, the differences were not found to be statistically significant. No difference was found between the two groups in incidence of postoperative thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: CEGA decreases surgical time, volume of intravenous fluid administration during an operation and provides effective postoperative pain control in patients undergoing a THR. Therefore,it is suggested that CEGA offers some advantages over GA alone.

Effect of Continuous Epidural Analgesia on the Progress of Labor / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The effect of epidural analgesia on the progress of labor is controversial. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of analgesia on the outcomes of labor, especially the cesarean delivery rate in the epidural and non-epidural (intramuscular nalbuphine) groups, prospectively. METHODS: All the nulliparous women were divided into two groups, group 1 (epidural group, n = 35) and group 2 (non-epidural group, intramuscular nalbuphine, n = 43) randomly. Epidural analgesia was maintained with a continuous epidural injection of 0.0625% bupivacaine with 0.2 microgram/ml fentanyl in group 1 and nalbuphine 10 mg was intramuscularly injected in group 2 when the cervix was dilated to at least 3-5 cm. The duration of the first and second stages of labor, cesarean delivery rate, Apgar score and body weight of infant were recorded and the pain score of parturient was recorded by 0-100 mm visual analogue scale. RESULTS: The duration of first and second stage were prolonged in the group 1 (epidural group). But there were no significant differences in the duration of first and second stage, Apgar score and body weight of infant between the two groups. Cesarean delivery rate was 16% (n = 7/35) in group 1 and 17% (n = 6/43) in group 2, so there was no significant difference between the two groups. Pain score was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural analgesia was not associated with increased cesarean delivery rate and provided safe and effective intrapartum pain control. Maternal-fetal factors and obstetric management, not epidural analgesia, are the most important determinants of the cesarean delivery rate.

The Effect of Anesthetic Technique on White Blood Cell Response to Surgery in Patients Who Underwent Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Cesarian Section / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Surgical stress causes changes in the composition of white blood cells in peripheral blood. In addition, anesthesia itself has been suggested to have an immunosuppressive effect. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of anesthetic technique on the changes of postoperative peripheral white blood cell (WBC) subsets in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients and cesarian section patients. METHODS: We reviewed 100 patients who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy under conventional general anesthesia or propofol infusion. Each group contained 50 patients equally. We also reviewed 100 patients who had cesarian section under spinal and epidural anesthesia, 50 patients in each group, respectively. The changes of total WBC, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively were compared to baseline values within the groups and these values were compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were significant increases in total WBC and neutrophils, decreases in lymphocytes, no changes in monocytes at 24 h after surgery compared to baseline values for the groups receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy. No differences were found between the two laparoscopic cholecystectomy groups. Cesarian section patients showed significant differences in total WBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes at 48 h after surgery compared to baseline values for the groups. There were no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Neither laparoscopic cholecystectomy nor cesarian section showed significant differences in WBC subsets after surgery according to anesthetic technique.

The Effect of Thoracic Epidural Block on the Defibrillation Threshold and Neuroendocrine Responses in Dogs / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Epidural block is known to block sympathetic efferent nerve fiber, resulting in the decrease of catecholamine. We examined the effects of thoracic epidural block on DFT, neuroendocrine responses and hemodynamic changes in dogs. METHODS: Twenty one dogs were divided into three groups. The control group (N = 7) was anesthesized with only alpha-chloralose for general anesthesia, and a high thoracic epidural (T; N = 7) while the thoracolumbar epidural groups (TL; N = 7) were put under general anesthesia with high thoracic or thoracolumbar epidural blocks, respectively. The DFT was determined at 30 mins after surgical manipulation in the control group and at 10 mins after the epidural blocks in the two epidural groups. Four hemodynamic variables, catecholamine, cAMP and lactate were measured at 30 mins after the surgical manipulation (resting period), at 10 mins after epidural blocks and after defibrillation. RESULTS: 1) The DFT levels were significantly higher in the T (6.4 +/- 2.2 J) and TL groups (11.2 +/- 9.3 J) than in the control group (3.2 +/- 1.6 J)(P < 0.05). In the TL group, epinephrine-induced second DFT was lower (3.0 +/- 1.5 J) than the first DFT (11.2 +/- 9.3 J)(P < 0.05). 2) Catecholamine levels and hemodynamic variables including heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and cardiac output significantly decreased in the TL group compared with the control group after epidural block and defibrillation (P < 0.05). The DFT showed a significant correlation with plasma epinephrine levels after the epidural block (r = 0.56, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show, an increase in transmyocardial DFT by the epidural block which may be caused by a decrease in catecholamine, especially epinephrine.

Analgesic Effect of Epidural Clonidine after Cesarean Section / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The importance of the intrinsic analgesic properties of the alpha 2-agonist is difficult to establish, but many studies have shown the beneficial effect of epidural clonidine in postoperative pain management. The authors examined the analgesic effect of clonidine, a preferential alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, upon hemodynamics, and side effects during the post-operative period in patients undergoing Cesarean section. METHODS: Sixty healthy parturients undergoing Cesarean section with general anesthesia were divided into two groups as follows: 1) Epidural Morphine group: An initial dose of morphine 3 mg diluted with 10 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine was injected epidurally at time of the peritoneal closure, followed by a continuous epidural infusion of morphine 7 mg and 100 ml of normal saline for the postoperative 2 days. 2) Epidural Clonidine group: An initial dose of clonidine 150 microgram diluted with 10 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine was injected epidurally at time of the peritoneal closure, followed by a continuous epidural infusion of clonidine 1800 microgram and 100 ml of normal saline for the postoperative 2 days. Postoperative analgesia was assessed by recording the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), PHS (Prince Henry Score) at postoperative 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. Blood pressure, heart rate, sedation, and side effects were also recorded. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the VAS and hemodynamic changes between the two groups, but the epidural clonidine reduced the PHS significantly at 1, 2, 3 postoperative hours (P < 0.05). There were less side effects in the cases of epidural clonidine as compared with epidural morphine. CONCLUSION: In comparison to epidural morphine, epidural clonidine produces a similar degree of analgesia but less side effects.

Beating Heart CABG under Thoracic Epidural Block Combined with Light General Anesthesia in Renal Transplanted Patient / 대한마취과학회지

Beating heart CABG is defined as a CABG without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Therefore there are no complications associated with CPB. So it is possible to extubate simultaneously with the end of the operation, and also it is effective to reduce the ICU time and the cost. Our team performed a beating heart CABG on a patient who had a history of renal transplantation, to avoid the renal complication due to CPB. We chose the thoracic epidural block combined with light general anesthesia as an anesthetic technique. We managed the patient successfully with consistent hemodynamic stability without the need of any drugs to induce bradycardia. We returned the patient to consciousness before extubation and extubated concurrently with the end of the operation. The patient maintained stable hemodynamics throughout the postoperative period, especially during the ICU stay and we controlled the pain via an epidural catheter with morphine and 0.125% bupivacaine for 3 days. The patient stayed in ICU only one day and was mobile on the second postoperative day. The patient was discharged without any complications, especially renal.

The Efficacy of Epinephrine Test Doses during Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia in Adult Patients / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia has been used to reduce the side effect of spinal or epidural anesthesia. The epinephrine test dose to prevent intravascular injection of local anesthetics after subarachnoid block has not been clearly understood. The purpose of present study is to see the efficacy of simulated intravenous test dose during subarachnoid block. METHODS: 20 ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients underwent subarachnoid block with tetracaine 10 mg in hyperbaric solution at the L3-4 interspace and were divided into two groups, Group 1 (n=10) and Group 2 (n=10). 3 ml of Normal saline was injected intravenously to group 1, while 1:200,000 epinephrine 3 ml (15 microgram) was injected intravenously to group 2 at regression of sensory block to T8-10. 1:200,000 epinephrine 3 ml (15 microgram) was given to each volunteer (Group 3, n=10). Heart rate (HR) was measured at 15 seconds intervals for 3 minutes and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured at 1 minute intervals for 5 minutes. RESULTS: SBP increased significantly in group 2 and group 3 at 1 minute after epinephrine test dose injection. Maximal HR changes was 39.7 3.7 beat per minute in group 2 and 25.8 5.2 beat per minute in group 3. There was 100% incidence of detection of intravascular injection of 15 microgram epinephrine in both group when HR increase > or = 20 beats per minute is regarded as positive response. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the epinephrine test dose is useful method to detect intravascular injection of local anesthetics either in the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia or epidural anesthesia. The heart rate response after injection of epinephrine was greater than the blood pressure response.

The Preemptive Analgesic Effect of Ketamine Used with Fentanyl in Epidural Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to determine whether ketamine, used with fentanyl in epidural anesthesia, can potentiate postoperative analgesia. METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing Cesarean section were allocated randomly into two groups. Group 1 received epidural injection of 2.0% lidocaine 18-20 ml and 0.5% bupivacaine 2-5 ml with fentanyl 50 ug on 20 minutes before surgical incision, and group 2 added epidural ketamine 30 mg to group 1 at the same time. Postoperative pain relief was provided with epidural morphine 3 mg and 0.25% bupivacaine 8 ml on 40 minutes after surgical incision in both groups. Numeric rating scales for pain and mood, Prince Henry Hospital scores for pain were assessed at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours after anesthesia. We measured the first request time of analgesics for postoperative pain, the dose of analgesics within postoperative 48 hours and the incidence of side effects postoperatively. RESULTS: There were no significant difference in the first request time of analgesics and use of analgesics for postoperative pain control between two groups. Pain and mood scores, and PHS score for pain in group 2 were better than those of group 1. The incidence of side effects were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of fentanyl and ketamine in epidural anesthesia provided little effect in potentiation of postoperative pain control. Further studies are needed to provide more prominent analgesic effect.

The Effect of Epidural Triamcinolone for Prevention of Back Pain after Lumbar Epidural Anesthesia in Cesarean Section / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Postoperative patients frequently associate postoperative backache with epidural anesthesia administered for the operation. Epidural steroids are often used for the treatment of low back pain. We performed this study to compare the effect of epidural triamcinolone on the incidence and severity of postepidural backache after cesarean section. METHODS: Eighty patients scheduled for cesarean section under epidural anesthesia using 2% lidocaine received 40 mg of triamcinolone (n=40) or 1ml of normal saline (n=40) epidurally via indwelling catheter after delivery. Backache were checked preoperatively and 24, 48, 72hr postoperatively using VAS score. A patient was considered to have postepidural backache when the postoperative VAS score was higher than the preoperative score. RESULTS: The incidence and severity of postepidural backache were much less in triamcinolone group than in control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Epidural triamcinolone has a preventive effect on postepidural backache in cesarean section patients.

Epidural Hematoma Following Lumbar Epidural Anesthesia: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Epidural hematoma associated with epidural anesthesia is rare. We describe a case of a epidural hematoma after continuous epidural anesthesia and analgesia for arthroscopic patella shaving. Anesthesia was indudced with 8 ml lidocaine, 2.0% with epinephrine, 1:200,000 and surgery proceeded. When additional boluses of bupivacaine were administered later, aspiration of the epidural catheter still yielded no blood. At the end of the operation, an epidural infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine was done 2 ml/hr by two-day infusor. In the third postoperative day, the patient suffered from acute myocardial infarction and then heparin was infused. In the fourth postoperative day, she complained lumbar back pain and developed depressed dorsiflexion (Grade II) of great toe in left foot during the infusion of heparin. Sagittal MRI showed posterior thickened epidural hematoma along the segments of T12-L4. Despite the delayed laminectomy and decompression, which was performed six days after her initial operation, she had a good postoperative response, followed by a complete neurological recovery.

Incidence of Cesarean Section Following a Continuous Lumbar Epidural Analgesia for Labor Pain / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study was subjected to evaluate a causal relation in the incidences of Cesarean section with or without epidural analgesia during labor. METHODS: All of the subjects was divided into two groups which consisted of 394 cases wanted epidural analgesia as Epidural group and 2938 cases unwanted it as Non-epidural group. Continuous lumbar epidural analgesia was performed at L3-4 interspace with catheter advancing 3 cm cephalad when cervix was dilated to at least 3~5 cm and then patient was placed lateral decubitus or sitting posture. 0.125% bupivacaine 10 ml was injected initially via the epidural catheter and then followed by a mixture (10 ml) of bupivacaine 16.7 mg and fentanyl 16.7 microgram hourly to be infused continuously. The data were analysed using Pearson's x2 test with p<0.05 taken as a significant difference. RESULTS: The incidence of normal spontaneous vaginal delivery and Cesarean section, the cause of alteration to Cesarean section, and gestational frequency followed by Cesarean section rate showed no significant difference between two groups. The occurrence of neonate below 7 points of Apgar score at one and five minute after Cesarean section was rather more in Non-epidural group (p<0.05) than that in Epidural group. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the continuous lumbar epidural analgesia with the dose of bupivacaine and fentanyl as mentioned above does not affect to Cesarean section rate during labor, which provides safe and effective for labor pain control.

Comparison of Esmolol and Thoracic Epidural Block in Induced Hypotension / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Induced hypotension reduces blood loss in the surgical field and provides better visibility. For induced hypotension, many methods have been used. Recently esmolol is favored in induced hypotension because of its short action and easy controlability, but thoracic epidural block is seldom used in induced hypotension. So we compared the effect of esmolol and thoracic epidural block in induced hypotension. METHOD: Patients scheduled for spinal posterior fusion under general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups. In thoracic epidural group (Group I, 20 patients), 8~10 ml of 2% lidocaine was injected into the epidural catheter located in T6-7 interspace in a bolus. In esmolol group (Group II, 20 patients), 0.5 mg/kg of esmolol received as loading dose and 50~150 microgram/kg/min infused continuously. We measured mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, heart rate, amounts of administrated fluids, urine output and VAS score. RESULT: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in amounts of bleeding, administered fluid, urine output. The elapsed time to reach the state of induced hypotension (MAP 55~65 mmHg) is 15.1 2.4 min after lidocaine injection in Group I and 6.1 2.7 min after esmolol injection in Group II (p<0.05). There were statistically significant differences between two groups in mean arterial pressure in 10 min after the injection (p<0.05). But there was apparent difference in VAS score in postoperative 1 hrs, 2 hrs and 6 hrs (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Thoracic epidural block is another method for induced hypotension. And postoperative pain control can be easily achieved by injection through epidural catheter.

Effect of Preemptive vs Postoperative Continuous Epidural Analgesia on Postoperative Pain after Radical Gastrectomy / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggest that noxious surgical trauma may induce prolonged changes in central neural function that later contribute postoperative pain. So, postoperative pain may be eliminated or reduced if surgical afferent barrages are prevented with local anesthetics or opioid before they reach to the CNS. We studied the preemptive analgesic effect of continuous epidural analgesia under general anesthesia after radical gastrectomy. METHODS: Forty four patients scheduled for radical gastrectomy were investigated. After general anesthesia induction, patients of preemptive group (n=25) were given 40 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine, 0.1 mg/kg of morphine and 75 microgram of clonidine epidurally as a bolus and followed by 10 ml/hour of 0.125% bupivacaine and 0.2 mg/hour of morphine continuously for 10 hours. Patients of non-preemptive group (n=19) were given the same drugs according to the same way after finishing the operations. The effect of preemptive analgesia was assessed by visual analogue pain scale (VAPS) score, and evaluated the time to first analgesic request, and total amount of used analgesics. Side effects were recorded. RESULTS: Postoperative VAPS scores were not different between two groups. Time to first analgesic request were significantly more prolonged and total amount of used analgesics were significantly less in preemptive group than in non-preemptive group. The incidence of side effects except respiratory depression were similar between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that despite preemptive analgesic effect was seen in preemptive group, but it was not prominent. Further studies are needed to prove more prominent preemptive effect in major abdominal operation.

Epidural Lipomatosis Discovered during Managing of Lower Back Pain: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

We experienced a case of lumbar epidural lipomatosis patient who had been treated with several epidural steroid injection for the management of lower back pain. This 67-years-old man, complained of lower back pain and radiating paresthetic pain to the dorsum of left foot. Epidural lipomatosis is a rare condition of focal or multiple deposition of excessive adipose tissue in epidural space. Since excessive deposited adipose tissue compresses the spinal cord or spinal root, patients complaint the atypical low back pain and low extremity radiculopathy which mimics the symptoms of spinal stenosis or herniated nucleus pulposus. In managing of lower back pain patient, especially who had been treated with steroid previously, we should consider that epidural lipomatois would be one of the cause.

Preemptive Effect of Epidural Fentanyl on Postoperative Pain / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Preemptive analgesia may prevent nociceptive input generated during surgery from sensitizing central neurons and, therefore, may reduce postoperative pain. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of epidural fentanyl between preincisional (preemptive) and postincisional groups on postoperative morphine requirements. METHODS: Sixty patients (ASA physical status 1 or 2) scheduled for elective total abdominal hysterectomy under general anesthesia were allocated randomly to one of two groups and prospectively studied in a double-blind manner. Group 1 received epidural fentanyl(2 g/kg in 15 ml normal saline) before surgical incision followed by epidural normal saline (15 ml) 15 minutes after skin incision. Group 2 received epidural normal saline(15 ml) before surgical incision followed by epidural fentanyl(2 g/kg in 15 ml normal saline) 15 minutes after skin incision. No additional analgesics were used before or during the operation. Postoperative visual analogue pain scores, PCA morphine requirements and side effects were assessed. RESULTS: Postoperative PCA morphine requirements in preincisional group were significantly less (p<0.05) than those in postincisional group between 6 and 24 hours postoperatively. VAPS was also significantly less (p<0.05) in preemptive group than in postincisional group 12 hours after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive analgesia with epidural fentanyl is more effective in reducing the postoperative morphine requirements and VAPS than analgesia with postincisional epidural fentanyl in patients with total abdominal hysterectomy.

Pneumocephalus after Inadvertent Dural Puncture during Epidural Block: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Pneumocephalus is a rare complication of anesthetic procedures involving the epidural space. With the loss of resistance technique using air, air may be injected in through the dural puncture site. Epidural blood patch was performed for the treatment of post-lumbar puncture headache, and 10 minutes after the treatment, 8 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride was injected through epidural catheter. Loss of consciousness and apnea were developed about 8 minutes after injection of local anesthetics. Computerized tomographic brain scan revealed the presence of air within intracranial cavity. Pneumocephalus may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. It generally responds well to conservative management. The patient did not complain of a headache. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the seventh day postpartum with no neurologic sequelae.

The Effects of Hypotensive Epidural Anesthesia for Total Hip Arthroplasty / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Induced hypotension is effective in decreasing blood loss and providing better visibility in the surgical field. Extensive epidural block to T4 with intravenous infusion of low-dose epinephrine allows mean arterial pressure to 50 mmHg. We investigated the effects of hypotensive epidural anesthesia comparing with normotensive epidural anesthesia during total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: 40 patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty under epidural anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups. In hypotensive group, 0.5% bupivacaine 20cc was injected into L1-2 epidural space and if sensory block reached to T4, then epinephrine 1~5 g/min was intravenously injected with continuous infusion pump. As a result, mean arterial pressure was maintained 50 mmHg, and heart rate, 55~80bpm. In normotensive group, 0.5% bupivacaine 20cc was injected into L4-5 epidural space, and sensory block reached to T8. Therefore blood pressure was maintained within 20% of preoperative baseline. RESULTS: There was apparent difference in blood loss between two groups (hypotensive group: 259 +/- 75 ml, normotensive group: 803 +/- 144*ml) (*:p<0.05). In addition, in the case of hypotensive epidral group, transfusion was not required and CVP, heart rate were not changed postoperatively. Cardiac, renal, and cerebral function were preserved too. CONCLUSIONS: Hypotensive epidural anesthesia with low dose of epinephrine infusion is safely lowering mean arterial pressure to 50 mmHg. This technique is associated with low blood loss, reduction in perioperative transfusion requirements, and has no side effects on CNS, liver, kidney and heart function.

The Effects of Epidural Bupivacaine and Morphine Mixture on Bowel Motility after Upper Abdominal Surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: The stress of operation inhibits bowel motility. The blockade of efferent sympathetic nerve is helpful to recovery of bowel motility. So we tried to examine that the extent of sympathetic blockade by alterations of bupivacaine infusion rate affected the recovery of bowel motility. METHODS: Group 1 (N = 25) received postoperative meperidine intramuscular injection on demand as a control group, group 2 (N = 25) received postoperative epidural 0.125% bupivacaine 100 ml plus morphine 10mg by infusion pump, 1 ml/hour, for 4days, group 3 (N = 25) received 0.125% bupivacaine 400 ml plus morphine 10mg by infusion pump, 4 ml/hour, for 4days. The Group 2 and 3 received additional morphine 2mg in 0.2% bupivacaine 10 ml epidurally as a single bolus when the peritoneum was closed. The time interval from termination of operation to the first passage of flatus was estimated. RESULTS: In group 1, bowel motility was regained at 92+/-23 hours, group 2 ; 90+/-19 hours and group 3 ; 91+/-19 hours. All values are not significantly different among the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The alteration of epidural bupivacaine and morphine infusion rate did not affect the recovery of postoperative bowel motility.