Influence of Clonidine on the Postoperative Analgesic Effect of Epidural Bupivacaine and Fentanyl. |
Kyeong Hee Kim, Jin Kyoung Jang, Jin Chul Joo |
Department of Anesthesiology, Kang Nam General Hospital, Seoul, Korea. |
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Abstract |
BACKGROUND Epidural clonidine reduces pain after surgery.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding low-dose clonidine to continuous epidural local anesthetics and fentanyl on pam relief. METHODS 100 patients scheduled for gynecologic low abdominal surgery were investigated. All patients were given 10cc of 0.25% bupivacaine with fentanyl 100 ug through epidural catheter. Group I was infused with combined 0.15% bupivacaine and fentanyl 5 ug/ml at a rate of 2cc/hr. Group II was infused with combined 0.15% bupivacaine and fentanyl 5 ug/ml and 150 ug of clonidine at a rate of 2cc/hr. Pain was assessed on a visual analogue pain scale for 2 postoperative days. Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and incidence of side effects were observed. RESULTS VAS observed 20min, 1hr, 1day, 2days after operation were significantly lower in Group II than Group I . Blood pressure and heart rates were significantly changed in Group II but not in Group I for 2 hours after epidural injection. The incidence of side effects was similar between Group I and Group II. CONCLUSIONS Continuous low-dose epidural clonidine infusion reduces blood pressure and heatt rates significantly but enhances postoperative analgesic effect of combined epidural bupivacaine and fentanyl without increased side effects. |
Key Words:
Pain; postoperative; Anesthetics; fentanyl; Anesthetic techniques; epidural; local; bupivacaine; Pharmacology; clonidine |
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