Continuous epidural analgesia for pain relief in patients with peripheral arterial ischemia

Anna Grabowska-Gaweł; Katarzyna Porzych; Jacek Wiśniewski

Vol 6, No 1 (2004)

Published online: 2004-03-16

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Continuous epidural analgesia for pain relief in patients with peripheral arterial ischemia

Anna Grabowska-Gaweł, Katarzyna Porzych, Jacek Wiśniewski

Chirurgia Polska 2004;6(1):45-50.

Vol 6, No 1 (2004)

Published online: 2004-03-16

Abstract

Background: We assessed effects of continous epidural analgesia on ischemic pain in sixty patients schedulet for aortic surgery due to the occlusive disease.
Material and methods: Patients were ramdomly allocated to two group, 30 patients each, according to drugs received: group I - bupivacaine plus morphine; group II - bupivacaine plus fentanyl. The incidence of adverce reactions after administration of both analgesics was compared. Pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale. Other variables measured included: block onset time, duration of analgesia, 24-hours uptake of bupivacaine, basic hemodynamic parameters and blood-gas analysis. Data were collected before and after surgery.
Results: We found bupivacaine-morphine analgesia the most effective, providing the longest duration of analgesia and the lowest 24-hour uptake of bupivacaine. Fentanyl was less effective, although significantly increased analgesia. There were no marked side-effects in all groups.