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Background: Cesarean section (CS) is one of the most common surgical procedures in female patients. Authors aimed to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of adding intrathecal fentanyl to bupivacaine, and its effect on the onset and duration of spinal anesthesia along with its effect on mother and neonate.Methods: Study was performed on 60 cesarean section parturients divided into two groups. Group F received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) plus 0.4 ml fentanyl (20 µg), and Group B received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) plus 0.4 ml of normal saline. The parameters taken into consideration were pain scores, analgesic requirement, hemodynamic stability and side effects.Results: It was found that duration of sensory block was prolonged in fentanyl group (111 minutes vs 86 minutes, p<0.001). Duration of effective analgesia (174.36 minutes vs 127.81; p value <0.001) were also found to be prolonged in Group F with requirement of fewer postoperative analgesics (1.02 vs 2.76, p=0.03). There was not much difference in the occurrence of side effects in both the groups.Conclusions: Addition of fentanyl to intrathecal bupivacaine for cesarean section increases the duration of postoperative analgesia without increasing maternal or neonatal side effects.
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Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of continuous intrathecal morphine infusion system for patients with refracto-ry cancer pain. Methods:Seventeen patients with refractory cancer pain were implanted with intrathecal catheters and connected with a continuous external electronic patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump for intrathecal morphine analgesia. Visual analogue scales (VAS) score, the dose of routine opioids, and the score for quality of life before and after intrathecal analgesia were recorded. Adverse reactions were observed. Results:After the application of continuous intrathecal morphine analgesia, the VAS score of pain was 2.9±1.8, which is lower than 7.2±2.5 before intrathecal analgesia (P<0.001). Moreover, the dose of routine opioids (i.e., equianal-gesic dose of morphine) was 42.1 ± 7.5 mg/day, which is significantly lower than 282.9 ± 95.5 mg/day before intrathecal analgesia (P=0.004). The scores of general activity, mood, and sleep after intrathecal analgesia were significantly lower than those before intrathe-cal analgesia (P<0.05). However, the analgesic satisfaction of patients considerably increased after intrathecal analgesia (P<0.001). Ad-verse reactions included withdrawal syndrome, headache, urinary retention, and intrathecal infection. Conclusion:The continuous in-trathecal morphine infusion with PCA is effective and safe on analgesic treatment for patients with refractory cancer pain.
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<b>Purpose</b>: We report two patients receiving high doses of systemic opioids in whom gradual switching of the opioid administration route from systemic to intrathecal provided satisfactory pain relief without excessive sedation or withdrawal symptoms. <b>Case reports</b>: In one of the patients, who was already receiving 500mg morphine intravenously but still suffered from right upper quadrant pain, it was difficult to increase the opioid dosage according to the WHO guidelines because of intolerable side effects. The other patient, in spite of taking a combination of systemic opioids equivalent to 760mg oral morphine, had inadequate pain relief and could not continue receiving home medical care. In both cases we could successfully change from systemic to intrathecal opioid administration in a step-wise manner without deterioration of pain control, adverse effects due to over dosage, or withdrawal symptoms. Intrathecal opioid administration also reduced drowsiness and improved daily activity. <b>Conclusion</b>: Currently, there are no guidelines for change of route of opioid administration from systemic to intrathecal administration and few published reports have concretely documented opioid route switching in Japan. A carefully planned, step-wise switching of opioid administration route from systemic to intrathecal should be considered in patients who are already taking high doses of systemic opioids. Palliat Care Res 2009; 4(1): 317-320
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BACKGROUND: Morphine has a direct action on morphine receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Intrathecally administered L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, is known to have an antinociceptive effect on formalin-induced pain in animal studies. Efficacy of intrathecally administered ketorolac, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, is somewhat controversial. The interactions of intrathecally administered morphine, ketorolac and L-NAME on formalin-induced nociception was studied. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with chronic lumbar intrathecal catheters and were tested for paw flinch by a formalin injection. Drugs were intrathecally administered 15 min before the formalin injection, and biphasic painful behaviors were observed. We obtained the ED50 for each agent (ketorolac, L-NAME and morphine). ED50 fractions (1, 1/2 and 1/4) of drug combinations of L-NAME-ketorolac, morphine-L-NAME and ketorolac-morphine were administered. The ED50 of each combined drug was established and isobolographic analysis of the drug interactions was carried out. RESULTS: Intrathecal administration of ketorolac, L-NAME and morphine produced a dose-dependent suppression of pain behaviors in phase 2. ED50 values were 297.04micro gram for ketorolac, 207.46micro gram for L-NAME and 0.17micro gram for morphine in phase 2. Isobolographic analysis showed that the combination of intrathecal morphine and L-NAME synergistically reduced pain behaviors in phase 2. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecally administered morphine, L-NAME and ketorolac produced a dose-dependent decrease in the number of paw flinches in both phase 1 and phase 2 on the formalin test. Morphine with L-NAME showed synergistic analgesic effects on formalin-induced pain in phase 2.