RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Nalbuphine when used as adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine has improved the quality of perioperative analgesia with fewer side effects. Fentanyl is a lipophilic opioid with a rapid onset following intrathecal injection. It does not cause respiratory depression and improves duration of sensory anesthesia without producing significant side effects. AIM: This study aims to compare the postoperative analgesia of intrathecal nalbuphine and fentanyl as adjuvants to bupivacaine in cesarean section. METHODOLOGY: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, and comparative study was conducted on 150 parturients of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II of age group 20-45 years with normal coagulation profile undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. These patients were randomized into three groups with fifty patients in each group. Group I received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) plus 0.4 ml nalbuphine (0.8 mg), Group II received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) plus 0.4 ml fentanyl (20 µg), and Group III received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) plus 0.4 ml of normal saline. RESULTS: The mean duration of effective analgesia was 259.20 ± 23.23 min in Group I, 232.70 ± 13.15 min in Group II, and 168.28 ± 7.55 min in Group III. The mean number of rescue analgesics required was significantly lower (P < 0.001) in Group I as compared to Group II and III. CONCLUSION: Both intrathecal nalbuphine 0.8 mg and fentanyl 20 µg are effective adjuvants to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine in subarachnoid block. However, intrathecal nalbuphine prolongs postoperative analgesia maximally and may be used as an alternative to intrathecal fentanyl in cesarean section.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Preemptive analgesia has the potential to be more effective than a similar analgesic treatment initiated after surgery as it reduces immediate postoperative pain as well as chronic pain. AIM: To study the efficacy of preemptive analgesia with intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized double-blind study was conducted on patients undergoing LC. Hundred patients were randomly divided into two groups of fifty each. In Group A, patients received 3 mg/kg of ropivacaine intraperitoneal instillation in 100 ml normal saline (NS) before creation of pneumoperitoneum and in Group B patients received 3 mg/kg of ropivacaine intraperitoneal instillation in 100 ml NS after completion of surgery. Postoperative visual analog scale score for abdominal and shoulder tip pain alongwith requirement of rescue analgesic were recorded for 24 h. RESULTS: Significantly lower visual analog scores for pain were observed in Group A versus Group B. Group A reported significantly lower pain at 0 h (P < 0.001), 1 h (P = 0.003), 3 h (P = 0.006), 6 h (P = 0.003), and 12 h (P = 0.001) postoperatively, but the difference was not statistically significant after 12 h. The mean time of first rescue analgesic was 472.8 ± 26.32 min in Group A, as compared with 189 ± 11.87 min in Group B. A significantly lower analgesic requirement was observed in Group A versus Group B throughout the entire study period (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The preemptive analgesia with intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine before creation of pneumoperitoneum is much more effective for postoperative pain relief in comparison to intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine after completion of surgery.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Ropivacaine (S (-)-1-propyl-2", 6"; pipecoloxylidide hydrochloride) a newer long-acting amide local anesthetic has various clinical and pharmacokinetic advantages over bupivacaine. AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare the onset as well as the duration of sensory block, hemodynamic variables, and postoperative analgesia with 0.5%, 0.75% ropivacaine and 0.5% bupivacaine after epidural anesthesia for lower limb orthopedic surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists I and II patients scheduled for lower limb orthopedic surgery were enrolled into this randomized, double-blind study. Epidural block was obtained with 15 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine (Group I), 15 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine (Group II), and 15 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine (Group III). The onset time, duration, and maximum level of sensory blockade achieved, as well as hemodynamic parameters and any side effects, were noted and treated accordingly. Postoperative monitoring for pain by visual analog scale (VAS) was done every 2 hourly for 24 h and transient neurological symptoms for 72 h. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test for nonparametric data and ANOVA for parametric data. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar among groups. The onset of sensory block varied from 22.35 ± 2.74 min (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) in Group I, 16.95 ± 2.96 min (mean ± SD) in Group II, and 19.70 ± 2.25 min (mean ± SD) in Group III. The mean duration of analgesia in Group III (157 ± 14.90 min)was comparable to Group II (149 ± 16.51 min) but it was significantly more than Group I (141.5 ± 17.55 min). Postoperatively, VAS scores were higher in Group I patients who required more number of postoperative epidural top-ups with tramadol. Adverse effects were noted and treated accordingly. There was no incidence of transient neurological symptoms postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Both ropivacaine and bupivacaine provided effective epidural anesthesia for lower limb surgery. Postoperative pain was less with 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine as compared to 0.5% ropivacaine.