Postoperative Pain Control with Epidural Meperidine Infusion / 대한통증학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Epidural opioids are commonly used for postoperative analgesia. However, the side effects of epidural opioids include respiratory depression, sedation, pruritus, nausea, vomiting and urinary retention. Meperidine, due to its intermediate lipid solubility and local anesthetic properties, permits postoperative analgesia. The aim of this study was to compare meperidine alone to meperidine coupled with bupivacaine, and to determine the effects of epidural meperidine without bupivacaine, when used for epidural analgesia following hepatectomy abdominal surgery. METHODS: Patients received thoracic epidural analgesia with meperidine alone (3.5 mg/ml in saline) or with additional bupivacaine (0.15%) for 2 days after surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score 2 days after the operation, with the incidence and dose supplementation also evaluated. Postoperative side effects were assessed using a 3 grade system. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of age and weight, or in the pain scores, side effects, incidence and dose supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: 3.5 mg/ml epidural meperidine at a dose of 2 ml/hr provides effective postoperative analgesia.