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The use of patient‐controlled epidural fentanyl in elderly patients *
Author(s) -
Ishiyama T.,
Iijima T.,
Sugawara T.,
Shibuya K.,
Sato H.,
Terada Y.,
Ichikawa M.,
Sessler D. I.,
Matsukawa T.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2007.05256.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fentanyl , bolus (digestion) , anesthesia , surgery , pain relief
Summary We studied whether delivering postoperative analgesia, using a patient‐controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) device was effective and safe in elderly patients. We enrolled 40 patients aged > 65 years (elderly group) and 40 patients aged 20–64 years (young group) scheduled for elective major abdominal surgery. PCEA infusion was started following completion of surgery. Mean (SD) fentanyl consumption (10.7 (3.7) compared with 10.5 (2.7) μg.kg −1 , p = 0.76) and number of times patients pressed the bolus switch (32 (36) compared with 44 (38), p = 0.16) during the first 24 h postoperatively were similar in the two groups. Pain scores, which were similar in both groups at rest, were significantly lower in the elderly on coughing (at 24 h, p < 0.05). In addition, average pain scores were similar at the time of PCEA bolus demands in the two groups. Elderly and young adult patients therefore required similar amounts of patient‐controlled epidural fentanyl to produce satisfactory pain relief.