Intravenous magnesium sulphate decreases postoperative tramadol requirement after radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess whether the addition of intravenous magnesium sulphate (Mg) at the induction of anaesthesia to a balanced anaesthetic protocol including wound infiltration, paracetamol and tramadol resulted in improved analgesic efficiency after radical prostatectomy. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Thirty ASA I or II males scheduled to undergo radical retropubic prostatectomy with general anaesthesia were prospectively assigned to one of the two groups (n = 15 each). The Mg group (Gr Mg) received 50 mg kg-1 of MgSO4 in 100 mL of isotonic saline over 20 min immediately after induction of anaesthesia and before skin incision. The patients in the control group (Gr C) received the same volume of saline over the same period. At the time of abdominal closure, wound infiltration with 190 mg (40 mL) of ropivacaine was performed in both groups. Pain was assessed by a 10-point visual analogue scale in the recovery room starting from the time of tracheal extubation. Standardized postoperative analgesia included paracetamol and tramadol administered via a patient-controlled analgesia device. RESULTS: In the postoperative period, both groups experienced an identical pain course evolution. Cumulative mean tramadol dose after 24 h was 226 mg in the magnesium group and 446 mg in the control group (P < 0.001). Postoperative nausea occurred in two patients in each group. Two vs. eight patients required analgesic rescue in magnesium and control groups, respectively (P = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that intravenous magnesium sulphate reduces tramadol consumption when used as a postoperative analgesic protocol in radical prostatectomy.

Effect of balanced analgesia with buprenorphine on pain response and general anaesthesia requirement during lithotripsy procedures.

The effectiveness of a balanced analgesia with buprenorphine ketoprofen-propacetamol for pain control during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was evaluated in order to reduce the requirements for general anaesthesia. Two hundred and ninety-one consecutive patients were included in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Patients in each group received midazolam 5 mg pre-operatively as premedication. The subjects then received either placebo (group 1), buprenorphine 0.3 mg (group 2) or the combination buprenorphine 0.3 mg plus ketoprofen 100 mg and propacetamol 2 g (group 3) intravenously (i.v.) at a constant rate. The treatment was started 45 min prior to ESWL. Pain was assessed using a three-point verbal scale: (0)no pain; (1) moderate pain; and (2) intense pain needing general anaesthesia. The patients assessed their pain intensity on a 0-100 mm visual analogue scale. Only 69% of group 1 patients received ESWL with midazolam premedication. Buprenorphine provided good analgesia in 87% of group 2 patients, while the combination buprenorphine-ketoprofen-propacetamol was effective in 99% of group 3 patients (P < 0.05). The incidence of nausea and vomiting was similar in the buprenorphine groups. No respiratory depression was reported. In conclusion, the buprenorphine-ketoprofen-propacetamol combination provided effective analgesia, allowing ESWL to be performed without the need for general anaesthesia.

[Comparative study of buprenorphine and its combination to ketoprofen or propacetamol for postoperative analgesia in urologic surgery]. / Etude comparative de la buprénorphine et de son association au kétoprofène et au propacétamol pour l'analgésie postopératoire en chirurgie urologique.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgesic effect of subcutaneous buprenorphine alone and in combination with propacetamol and ketoprofen following urologic surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Open randomized clinical trial. PATIENTS: Sixty ASA II/III patients undergoing urologic surgery. METHODS: The patients were randomized into three groups to receive either buprenorphine (0.3 mg subcutaneous) on demand (group 1, n = 20), or a combination of buprenorphine (0.3 mg)-propacetamol (2 g)-ketoprofen (100 mg) by intravenous route over 2 hours followed by an infusion of propacetamol (2 g) and ketoprofen (100 mg) at a constant rate over. The remaining 22 hours (group 2, n = 20), or the same loading dose as in group 2 prolonged by a continuous infusion of buprenorphine (0.3 mg), propacetamol (2 g) and ketoprofen (100 mg) over the same period (group 3, n = 20). Visual analogue scale pain scores (0-10) were assessed every hour during the 24 hours of the study. When the VAS score exceeded 5, an additional dose of 0.3 mg of buprenorphine was administered. RESULTS: Groups were similar for age, surgery, anaesthesia and initial pain levels. Compared to group 1, the onset of analgesia was earlier in groups 2 and 3 at the 1st hour (P < 0.05); the level of analgesia was lower at the 3rd hour (P < 0.05). The maintenance of this analgesia level required constant buprenorphine administration. Buprenorphine requirements were decreased to 56% and 37% in groups 2 and 3 respectively, compared to group 1 (P < 0.05). Incidence of nausea and vomiting was lowered to 15% in group 3 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A combination of buprenorphine, propacetamol and ketoprofen provides effective postoperative analgesia with a low incidence of nausea and vomiting and decreased requirements of buprenorphine.