Adrenaline, cyclic AMP and potassium during general anaesthesia with and without epidural analgesia

Twenty patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia were studied to determine whether beta 2-adrenergic receptor sensitivity and adrenaline-induced hypokalaemia are related to preceding adrenergic stress. Half of the patients were given epidural analgesia with bupivacaine-adrenaline before starting surgery and then a booster dose after 60 min of surgery. The others were given only the epidural dose of bupivacaine-adrenaline at 60 min. Despite marked increases in the plasma adrenaline concentration after the intra-operative epidural dose, there was no decrease in the serum potassium concentration in either group. In the patients who received only the 60 min dose, the plasma adrenaline concentrations increased more, but the plasma level of cyclic AMP (a marker for beta 2-stimulation) increased similarly, which suggests that beta 2-adrenoceptor responsiveness was somewhat reduced. After the intraoperative bupivacaine-adrenaline, the T wave amplitude decreased, but neither U waves nor tachycardia developed. In conclusion, adrenergic stimulation during surgery does not decrease the serum potassium concentration, regardless of whether the surgical stress response has been modified by epidural analgesia. This lack of a hypokalaemic effect might be partly due to reduced responsiveness of beta 2-adrenoceptors to adrenaline.     

Thoracic epidural anaesthesia for coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Effects on postoperative complications

We have performed a retrospective analysis of the peri-operative course of 218 consecutive patients who underwent routine coronary artery bypass graft surgery in this institution. All patients received a standardised general anaesthetic using target-controlled infusions of alfentanil and propofol. One hundred patients also received thoracic epidural anaesthesia with bupivacaine and clonidine, started before surgery and continued for 5 days after surgery. The remaining 118 patients received target-controlled infusion of alfentanil for analgesia for the first 24 h after surgery, followed by intravenous patient-controlled morphine analgesia for a further 48 h. Using computerised patient medical records, we analysed the frequency of respiratory, neurological, renal, gastrointestinal, haematological and cardiovascular complications in these two groups. New arrhythmias requiring treatment occurred in 18% of the thoracic epidural anaesthesia group of patients compared with 32% of the general anaesthesia group (p = 0.02). There was also a trend towards a reduced incidence of respiratory complications in the thoracic epidural anaesthesia group. The time to tracheal extubation was decreased in the epidural group, with the tracheas of 21% of the patients being extubated immediately after surgery compared with 2% in the general anaesthesia group (p < 0.001). There were no serious neurological problems resulting from the use of thoracic epidural analgesia.     

Caudal clonidine and bupivacaine for combined epidural and general anaesthesia in children

BACKGROUND: Clonidine produces analgesia by actions on alpha 2-adrenoceptors and enhances both sensory and motor blockade from epidural injection of local anaesthetics. Low-dose clonidine has been used so far for caudal injection in children. Our aim was to study the perioperative effects of high-dose caudal clonidine when added to low concentration of bupivacaine for combined epidural and general anaesthesia in children. METHODS: After induction of general anaesthesia caudal block was performed either with 1 ml.kg-1 bupivacaine 0.175% with the addition of clonidine 5 micrograms.kg-1 (n = 20), or with 1 ml.kg-1 bupivacaine 0.175% (n = 20). The intraoperative anaesthetic requirements, the perioperative haemodynamic effects, respiratory rate, sedation score, postoperative pain scores and side effects were assessed by a blinded observer. A patient-controlled analgesia system was used for postoperative pain relief. The quality of postoperative pain relief was assessed using Smiley's pain analogue scale. RESULTS: Intraoperative haemodynamic responses did not differ between the groups. However, during emergence from general anaesthesia children in the clonidine group had significantly lower heart rates and blood pressure compared to children in the control group. In addition, heart rates and blood pressures were also lower in the clonidine group in the early postoperative period (P < 0.05). Postoperative analgesia was significantly better in the clonidine group as evidenced by the total number of requests (3 vs 12, P < 0.05) and the total amount of tramadol (20.5 mg vs 72.8 mg, P < 0.05) administered. The duration of the caudal analgesia was significantly longer in the clonidine group (20.9 +/- 7.4 h vs 14.4 +/- 10.9 h, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that caudal clonidine 5 micrograms.kg-1 enhances and prolongs caudal blockade with bupivacaine (1.175% in children. It also blocks sympathoadrenergic responses during emergence from anaesthesia. Sedation and cardiovascular effects are observed up to 3 h into the postoperative period.     

A preliminary comparison of epidural lidocaine and xylazine during total intravenous anaesthesia in Iranian fat-tailed sheep

The effects of total intravenous anaesthesia using diazepam-ketamine (D-K) mixture in combination with epidural lidocaine or xylazine were studied in 17 healthy, Iranian fat-tailed sheep undergoing hindlimb orthopaedic surgery. All sheep were given diazepam (0.4 mg/kg) and ketamine (4 mg/kg) as induction agents. Following endotracheal intubation and administration of oxygen, the animal received lidocaine (2%, 0.2 ml/kg = 4 mg/kg) or xylazine (0.08 mg/kg, diluted in 0.9% NaCl to a volume of 0.2 ml/kg) epidurally. Anaesthesia was maintained for 174.2 +/- 7.8 minutes by intermittent injection of D-K (2.5 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml, respectively). This drug combination provided satisfactory anaesthesia for more than 2.5 hours. The quality of recovery was good. Our results demonstrate that the combination of total intravenous anaesthesia (D-K) and epidural analgesia (lidocaine or xylazine) provides a suitable technique for hindlimb orthopaedic surgery in sheep. Epidural administration of lidocaine or xylazine provided effective analgesia and significantly decreased the dose of D-K required to maintain anaesthesia. Further studies would be required to determine details of cardiopulmonary effects of D-K infusion.     

Effectiveness, side effects and costs of postoperative pain therapy: intravenous and epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)

PURPOSE: Improvement of the quality of analgesia, reduction of side effects and costs by application of epidural (PCEA) in comparison to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) in postoperative pain treatment. METHODS: 62 patients with upper abdominal surgery took part in this randomised prospective study which was approved by the local ethics committee. Epidural catheters were inserted at T 8/9 (group PCEA). General anaesthesia was performed with propofol, sufentanil 2 micrograms/kg, pancuronium, enflurane and O2:N2O = 1:2. Postoperative analgesia consisted of epidural bupivacaine 0.25% + sufentanil 2 micrograms/ml (BS). (bolus 0.05 ml/kg, lockout 10 min) in group PCEA, or of intravenous morphine (bolus 2 mg. lockout 10 min) in group PCA. The following parameters were recorded until the evening of postoperative day 4: pain intensity at rest (VASR, 1-10) and on coughing (VASH, 1-10), blood pressure, heart rate, blood gas analysis, ability to ambulate, pruritus, nausea/vomiting (PONV), patient satisfaction (0-4), time and expenses for postoperative pain treatment. RESULTS: Median VASR (1 vs 2) and VASH (3 vs 4.5) were lower, cough intensity (2 vs 1) and patient satisfaction score (4 vs 3) were higher in PCEA compared to PCA. Ability to ambulate, pruritus, PONV, haemodynamics, paO2 and paCO2 were comparable. Postoperative pain treatment with PCEA was more time-consuming (407 vs 299 min) and expensive (71 vs 40 S/day) than PCA. CONCLUSION: PCEA in comparison to PCA after major abdominal surgery provides superior analgesia with comparable side effects at approximately 80% higher costs.     

The effect of clonidine on intra-operative requirements of fentanyl during combined epidural/general anaesthesia

The study evaluates the analgesic effects of epidural clonidine in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy under combined epidural/general anaesthesia. Forty ASA 1-2 patients were divided into two groups who received epidurally either clonidine 300 micrograms (group 1) or placebo (group 2). Anaesthesia was maintained with oxygen/nitrous oxide, a midazolam infusion, vecuronium, and boluses of fentanyl 100 micrograms administered as needed to maintain cardiovascular stability. The mean (SD) intraoperative fentanyl requirements were 2.05 (0.18) and 3.66 (0.3) micrograms.kg-1.h-1 for groups 1 and 2 respectively (p < 0.001). Patients in Group 1 had a lower heart rate after tracheal intubation and surgical incision (p < 0.02). In the recovery room, pain intensity was lower in group 1 (p < 0.003) and the mean (SD) time until analgesia request was increased from 48.5 (8.4) min in group 2 to 235.7 (33.2) min in group 1 (p < 0.001). Our results demonstrate that epidural clonidine produces decreased fentanyl requirements, improved cardiovascular stability, reduced pain intensity and effective postoperative analgesia in the recovery room.     

Thoracic epidural analgesia in aortocoronary bypass surgery. II: Effects on the endocrine metabolic response

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) may offer haemodynamic benefits for patients with coronary heart disease going through major surgery. This may-in part-be secondary to an effect on the endocrine and metabolic response to surgery. We therefore investigated the effect of TEA on the endocrine metabolic response to aortocoronary bypass surgery (ACBS). Thirty male patients (age < 65 years, ejection fraction > 0.5) were randomized into 3 groups; the HF group receiving a high dose fentanyl (55 micrograms.kg-1) anaesthesia, the HF+TEA group with the same fentanyl dose+TEA with 10 ml bupivacain 5 mg.ml-1, followed by 4 ml every hour, and the LF+TEA group receiving fentanyl 15 micrograms.kg-1 + TEA. Adrenalin, noradrenalin, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), glucose, cortisol, lactate and free fatty acids were followed during the operation and for 20 h postoperatively. A significant increase in adrenalin, noradrenalin and SVR was found in the HF group whereas this increase was blocked in both epidural groups. An increase in glucose and cortisol was noticed in all groups, but the increase was delayed in the epidural groups. Our results suggest that a more effective blockade of the stress response during ACBS is obtained when TEA is added to general anaesthesia than with high dose fentanyl anaesthesia alone.     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under epidural anesthesia in patients with chronic respiratory disease

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become firmly established as a procedure of choice for gallstone disease. The procedure usually necessitates general anaesthesia and endotracheal intubation to prevent aspiration and respiratory embarrassment secondary to the induction of pneumoperitoneum. There is a paucity of data in the literature on the procedure being performed under regional (epidural) anaesthesia, especially in patients with coexisting pulmonary disease and pregnancy, who are deemed high risk for general anaesthesia. We report our preliminary experience with LC using epidural anaesthesia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: We performed LC in six patients (one man and five women), with a median age of 56 years (range, 38-74), under epidural anaesthesia over an 8-month period. All patients were ASA grade III/IV and the mean FEB1/FVC was 0.52 (range, 0.4-0.68), due to chronic asthma (two cases) and COPD (four cases). They were admitted a day prior to surgery for pulmonary function tests, nebulisers, and chest physiotherapy. An epidural catheter was introduced at T10/11 intervertebral space, and a bolus of 0.5% Bupivacaine was administered. Depending on the patient's pain threshold and the segmental level of analgesia achieved, incremental doses of 2 ml of 0.5% Bupivacaine along with boluses of intravenous 100 mcg Alfentanil was given to each patient. The patients were breathing spontaneously. No nasogastric tube was inserted, and a low-pressure (10 mmHg) pneumoperitoneum was created. LC was performed according to the standard technique. RESULTS: All the patients tolerated the procedure well and made an uneventful postoperative recovery. Median operating time was 50 min; average length of hospital stay was 2.5 days (range, 2-4). The epidural catheter was removed the morning after the operation. Only one patient required postoperative opioid analgesia. Two patients complained of persistent shoulder tip pain during surgery and required intraoperative analgesia (Alfentanil). There was no change in the patient's cardiorespiratory status, including PO2 and pCO2, and no complications occurred either intra- or postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: LC can be performed safely under epidural anaesthesia in patients with severe COPD. Intraoperative shoulder tip or abdominal pain does not seem to be a major deterrent and can be effectively controlled with small doses of opioid analgesia.     

Risks and recommendations in Bechterew disease. Paraparesis after epidural anesthesia

We describe a case of paraparesis caused by an epidural haematoma in a 74-year-old man with advanced ankylosing spondylitis who received combined epidural and general anaesthesia for graft repair of an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. Before the induction of general anaesthesia, an epidural catheter was inserted at the level of thoracic vertebrae 10-11 without difficulty or signs of bleeding. Total analgesia and paralysis of the legs in the early postoperative period raised suspicions of the presence of an epidural haematoma, which was confirmed by magnetic resonance tomography. Aspiration of the epidural catheter yielded 13 ml of blood. Despite early surgical decompression after transfer to a regional hospital, the patient remains paraparetic. We wish to highlight the risks of epidural anaesthesia in cases of ankylosing spondylitis, and to stress the need of routine control of motor function after epidural anaesthesia.     

Effect of thoracic epidural anaesthesia on ventilation-perfusion distribution and intrathoracic blood volume before and after induction of general anaesthesia

BACKGROUND: Gas exchange is impaired during general anaesthesia due to development of shunt and ventilation-perfusion mismatching. Thoracic epidural anaesthesia (TEA) may affect the mechanics of the respiratory system, intrathoracic blood volume and possibly ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) distribution during general anaesthesia. METHODS: VA/Q relationships were analyzed in 24 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Intrapulmonary shunt (Qs/QT), perfusion of "low" VA/Q areas, ventilation of "high" VA/Q regions, dead space ventilation and mean distribution of ventilation and perfusion were calculated from the retention/excretion data of six inert gases. Intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) and pulmonary blood volume (PBV) were determined with a double indicator technique. Recordings were made before and after administration of 8.5 +/- 1.5 ml bupivacaine 0.5% (n = 12) or 8.3 +/- 1.8 ml placebo (n = 12) into a thoracic epidural catheter and after induction of general anaesthesia. RESULTS: Before TEA, Qs/QT was normal in the bupivacaine group (2 +/- 2%) and the placebo group (2 +/- 3%). TEA covering the dermatomal segments T 12 to T 4 had no effect on VA/Q relationships, ITBV and PBV. After induction of general anaesthesia Qs/QT increased to 8 +/- 4% (bupivacaine group, P < 0.05 and to 7 +/- 2% (placebo group, P < 0.05). ITBV and PBV decreased significantly to the same extent in the bupivacaine group and the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: TEA has no effect on VA/Q distribution, gas exchange and intrathoracic blood volume in the awake state and does not influence development of Qs/QT and VA/Q inequality after induction of general anaesthesia.     

Pain therapy after thoracotomies--systemic patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with opioid versus intercostal block and interpleural analgesia

Both regional analgesia and systemic opioid therapy (e.g. PCA) are commonly used for pain relief following thoracic surgery. Many anaesthesiologists are reluctant to use thoracic epidural analgesia on general surgical wards. Therefore, we investigated in a prospective randomised study the efficacy of intercostal blocks (ICB) or interpleural analgesia (IPA) compared to PCA with systemic opioids (PCA). Following ethics committee approval and informed consent, 45 thoracotomy patients were randomised for postoperative pain management: group 1: intravenous PCA with piritramide (PCA-control), group 2: intercostal blocks of the segments concerned with 5 ml bupivacaine 0.5% at the end of surgery and 6 hours thereafter (ICB), group 3: interpleural analgesia with 20 ml bupivacaine 0.25% applied every 4 hours using a catheter placed during surgery near the apex of the pleural space (IPA). Patients in the ICB and IPA groups were able to obtain additional pain relief by PCA with piritramide. Alternative medication for all groups in case of insufficient analgesia was metamizol. Both regional analgesia groups used significantly less piritramide up to the 3rd (IPA) or 7th (ICB) postoperative day than the control group (p < 0.05). The consumption of metamizol was lower as well (n. s.). No significant differences between the study groups were observed with regard to pain scores (visual analogue scale VAS) at rest, during deep inspiration, coughing or mobilisation. Respiratory parameters as forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume (1 sec) and peak flow (FVC; FEV1; PF) were reduced significantly following thoracotomy and showed a slow restitution in all three study groups without major inter-group differences. Intercostal blocks and interpleural analgesia significantly reduce opioid demand following thoracotomy and are effective means of postoperative pain management. Nevertheless, in contrast to epidural analgesia, both methods have to be supplemented by, or combined with, systemic analgesics in most patients. On the other hand, compared to epidural analgesia, ICB and IPA are less invasive and easier to manage on general surgical wards.     

Comparative study of preemptive and postincisional lumbar epidural morphine in pulmonary resection. Preliminary report

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and incidence of side effects of two types of lumbar epidural analgesia with morphine, preemptive or postincisional, combined with total intravenous anesthesia in chest surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This double-blind prospective study enrolled 20 patients (ASA I-IV) undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy. Anesthetic induction and maintenance was provided with propofol, atracurium and alfentanil. Lumbar epidural analgesia (L2-L3) with morphine was provided for group A patients with 2 to 4 mg upon excision of tissue and for group B with 2 to 4 mg during anesthetic induction. The following variables were recorded: arterial blood gas concentrations, heart rate, SpO2, EtCO2, postanesthetic recovery, arterial gases, side effects and pain on a visual analogue scale. Top-up analgesia was provided by intravenous metamizole and/or epidural morphine. For statistical analysis we used ANOVA, chi-square tests and Student-Newman-Keuls tests. RESULTS: The need for propofol and alfentanil during anesthesia, and for morphine and metamizole after surgery were statistically greater in group A. Pain 18 hours after surgery was also greater in group A. No significant differences between groups for other variables was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive analgesia with lumbar epidural morphine in addition to the general anesthesia described here seems to provide higher-quality analgesia with few side effects, reducing the need for propofol and alfentanil during surgery and for postoperative morphine and metamizole.     

Spinal analgesia for cesarean section

Over a twelve-month period, 47 of a total of 127 women had spinal anaesthesia (SA) for caesarean section (SC). Data from the anaesthesia and the postoperative period were collected and a questionnaire was sent to the mothers after discharge. The analgesia was sufficient in 45 patients. Two had general anaesthesia (GA). One further patient had GA because of overwhelming anxiety. Despite crystalloid preloading, 45% had a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure. Hypotensive cases were treated with a bolus of ephedrine i.v. Forty-one of the new-born babies scored Apgar 10/1 and all scored 10/5. No postdural puncture headaches were observed during the patients' stay in hospital. Forty women answered the questionnaire, and of these, 38 said they would prefer SA in the event of future SC. Six out of eight women who had previously had epidural analgesia preferred SA. We find that SA is a safe, easy, and reliable method for SC, although supplementary analgetic and antiemetic may be needed, but it is mandatory to maintain the systolic blood pressure (cardiac output) close to the preanalgetic values.     

Postoperative hypoxaemia: continuous extradural infusion of bupivacaine and morphine vs patient-controlled analgesia with intravenous morphine

We carried out a randomized prospective study in 60 patients who had undergone major abdominal surgery for cancer. For postoperative pain control, 30 patients received continuous extradural infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine 12.5 mg h-1 and morphine 0.25 mg h-1 (EXI group) and 30 received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with intravenous morphine (1 mg bolus, 5-min lock-out and maximum dose 20 mg 4h-1). Both groups had general anaesthesia. The two groups were compared for postoperative pain scores, satisfaction, sedation and oxygen saturation. Oxygen saturation was recorded continuously the night before surgery and for two consecutive postoperative nights. Episodes of moderate desaturation (90% > SpO2 85%) were more frequent in the EXI group than in the PCA group (P < 0.05). Pain scores were lower in the EXI group compared with the PCA group at rest and while coughing (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found for patient sedation and satisfaction.     

Intraoperative intravenous ketamine in combination with epidural analgesia: postoperative analgesia after renal surgery

We designed this double-blinded, randomized, controlled study to evaluate the effect of small-dose ketamine IV in combination with epidural morphine and bupivacaine on postoperative pain after renal surgery. An epidural catheter was inserted, and the administration of morphine and bupivacaine was started before surgery. Forty patients were assigned to one of two groups (ketamine or control). The ketamine group was administered a ketamine bolus and infusion during surgery. The median visual analog pain scale (VAS) scores at rest were significantly lower in the ketamine group during the first 6 h (P < 0.01). VAS pain scores on coughing were also significantly lower in the ketamine group (P < 0.01). Cumulative postoperative total analgesic consumption was less in the ketamine group on Days 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). The first analgesic demand time was shorter in the control group (9.2 +/- 11.5 min) than in the ketamine group (22.3 +/- 17.1 min) (P < 0.0001). The incidence of nausea and pruritus was more frequent in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, postoperative analgesia was more effective when spinal cord and brain sensitization were blocked by a combination of epidural morphine/bupivacaine and IV ketamine. IMPLICATIONS: Renal nociception conducted multisegmentally by both the spinal nerves (T10 to L1) and the vagus nerve cannot be blocked by epidural analgesia alone. We demonstrated that IV ketamine had an improved analgesic or opioid-sparing effect when it was combined with epidural bupivacaine and morphine after renal surgery.     

Efficacy of epidural analgesia in minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery

Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery (MIDCAB), coronary bypass grafting with small thoracotomy using no cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), became popular recently. To attenuate perioperative stress-response, we used epidural analgesia (EPI) with general anesthesia for MIDCAB operation. In this study, we compared retrospectively 11 cases of MIDCAB managed with EPI [ED (+)], and 14 cases of MIDCAB anesthetized without using EPI [ED (-)], concerning extubation time, ICU stay, hospital stay and perioperative complications. The mean time from cessation of general anesthesia to extubation was significantly shorter in ED (+) patients (0.5 hours) when compared to ED (-) patients (18.2 hours). Mean periods of ICU stay and hospital stay were, also, shorter in ED (+) patients (2.1 days, 30.5 days, respectively) when compared to ED (-) (4.3 days, 45.1 days, respectively) patients. We experienced ventricular tachycardia in three patients of ED (-). No major complication occurred in ED (+) patients. These results suggest that EPI shortened extubation time, ICU and hospital stay for MIDCAB patients.     

Inguinal hernia repair: a comparison between local and general anaesthesia

BACKGROUND: A comparative analysis of outcomes of inguinal hernia repair performed under local (LA) and general anaesthesia (GA) by a single surgeon using a standardized technique of anterior transversalis repair was performed. Ninety-three cases were examined, 56 of which were cases of LA hernia repair. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the patient hospital record was performed with particular attention to intra-operative and post-operative analgesia requirements. RESULTS: An overall series complication rate of 6.5% (6/93) is reported. Only one of 56 LA patients (2%) required more than 24 h of narcotic analgesic injections compared to 11% (4/37) in the GA group (P < 0.05). The mean total postoperative parenteral narcotic requirement in the LA group was 86+/-14 mg of pethidine as compared to the GA group who had a mean total requirement of 121+/-17 mg of pethidine (P > 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: The LA infiltration technique is an effective method for inguinal hernia repair. This series demonstrates benefits in terms of length of hospital stay and a lower incidence of postoperative parenteral narcotic analgesic requirement although when post-operative parenteral narcotics were required by the LA group of patients, the difference in mean total pethidine requirement was not statistically significant.     

Complications during and after surgery and childbirth where spinal or epidural analgesia is used. Guidelines for safe practice

When complications and neurological sequelae occur during a spinal or epidural anaesthetic the causes are clearly related to the procedures in the following cases: severe haemodynamic or respiratory derangement, documented needle trauma of nerve fibres, intraspinal haematoma in anticoagulated or heparinized patients, and epidural infection where an infected epidural catheter entry site is documented. A number of well documented cases have been published in which surgery or patient-related pathology were primary causes of "typical" spinal or epidural neurological complications. These emphasize the importance of searching for other risk factors of neurological sequelae after surgery or child birth in cases where there is no obvious deviation from the normal epidural or spinal procedures. Increased focus on the infrequent, but serious complications of these essentially very safe techniques for surgical anaesthesia and pain relief should serve to increase our vigilance, but should not reduce the application of spinal and epidural analgesia. Guidelines are offered for the effective and safe practice of spinal and epidural anaesthesia and pain relief: adequate supervision of trainee anaesthetists, vigilant monitoring for early detection and handling of complications, and trained nurses on surgical wards to monitor and handle patients during epidural analgesia are important. Sufficient readiness for urgent handling of the very rare, but devastating complications of intraspinal bleeding or infection is an absolute necessity.     

Perioperative myocardial ischaemia in patients undergoing transurethral surgery: a pilot study comparing general with spinal anaesthesia

We have studied the incidence and duration of perioperative myocardial ischaemia using ambulatory ECG monitoring in 100 patients undergoing transurethral surgery, who were allocated randomly to receive either general or spinal anaesthesia. The overall incidence of myocardial ischaemia increased from 18% to 26% between the preoperative and postoperative periods. Patients with ischaemic heart disease had a significantly greater incidence of myocardial ischaemia after operation than patients without known ischaemic heart disease (P < 0.05). There was an increase in both the incidence and duration of myocardial ischaemia after operation with both anaesthetic techniques, but no significant difference between the two.     

Epidural fentanyl, adrenaline and clonidine as adjuvants to local anaesthetics for surgical analgesia: meta-analyses of analgesia and side-effects

BACKGROUND: The risk/benefit ratio of adding fentanyl, adrenaline and clonidine to epidural local anaesthetics for improving intraoperative analgesia is unclear. This meta-analysis was performed to clarify this issue. METHODS: Trials retrieved by search were considered if they were prospective, controlled, epidural analgesia (without combining general anaesthesia) was planned and occurrence of pain during surgery or side-effects were reported. Papers entered meta-analysis if they reached a predefined minimum quality score. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) were computed. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Eighteen trials were included in the analysis for fentanyl. Fentanyl decreased the likelihood of pain (OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.15-0.30, P < 0.001) and increased the incidence of pruritus (OR = 5.59, 95% CI = 3.12-10.05, P < 0.001) and sedation (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.19-2.98, P = 0.003), compared to control (local anaesthetic without fentanyl). Fentanyl had no effect on respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting and Apgar score. One case of respiratory depression of a newborn was observed. Because of the very low number of trials selected, evaluation of adrenaline and clonidine was not feasible. CONCLUSION: The analysis of current literature shows that the addition of fentanyl to local anaesthetics for intraoperative epidural analgesia is safe and advantageous. The reduction in the incidence of pain during surgery is quantitatively high and therefore clinically significant. Side-effects are mild. Randomized, controlled trials have to be performed in order to clarify the role of adrenaline and clonidine as epidural adjuvants for surgical analgesia.