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Comparison of continuous epidural infusion of fentanyl and bupivacaine with intermittent epidural administration of morphine for postoperative pain management in children
Author(s) -
KART T.,
WALTHERLARSEN S.,
SVEJBORG T. F.,
FEILBERC V.,
ERIKSEN K.,
RASMUSSEN M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1997.tb04724.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bupivacaine , anesthesia , fentanyl , morphine , epidural administration , pain management , continuous infusion , surgery
Background: The aim of this study was to compare epidural infusion of bupivacaine and fentanyl and intermittent epidural morphine with regard to analgesic effect, and incidence and severity of side effects in children undergoing major abdominal or genito‐urological surgery in order to improve the postoperative pain management of children. Methods: A double‐blind, block‐randomised study design was used. Thirty‐one children aged 3 months to 6 years undergoing major abdominal or genito‐urological surgery were studied. After induction of anaesthesia a lumbar epidural catheter was placed at L 3–4 or L 4–5. Postoperatively, the children received either 30 μg/kg of morphine every 8 h or a continuous infusion of fentanyl 2 μg/ml and bupivacaine 1.0 mg/ml at a rate of 0.25 ml.kg ‐1 .h ‐1 . All children additionally received rectal paracetamol in doses of 50–100 mg.kg ‐1 . d ‐1 on a regular basis, and if necessary supplementary intravenous morphine in doses of 50 μg/kg. Postoperatively, pain, administration of supplemental morphine and side effects were recorded 5 times by one observer during the day of surgery and the first postoperative day. All children had an epidural catheter throughout the study period. Results: Both regimens provided effective analgesia, but significantly better pain relief was obtained in children receiving the fentanyl/bupivacaine regimen. Sedation, pruritus, vomiting, and administration of antiemetics were seen in both treatment groups, and even though both the incidence and severity of side effects tended to be higher in children receiving morphine, no statistically significant difference was found. No episodes of respiratory depression or motor blockade were noticed. Conclusion: Continuous epidural infusion of fentanyl and bupivacaine was found to be superior to intermittent epidural morphine. The initial regimen should be fentanyl 2 μg/ml and bupivacaine 1.0 mg/ml infused at a rate of 0.25 ml. kg ‐1 . h ‐1 .