Korean J Anesthesiol.  1996 Apr;30(4):487-492. 10.4097/kjae.1996.30.4.487.

Influence of Clonidine on the Postoperative Analgesic Effect of Epidural Bupivacaine and Fentanyl

• Kim KH
• Jang JK
• Joo JC

• KMID: 1860474
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1996.30.4.487

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Epidural clonidine reduces pain after surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding low-dose clonidine to continuous epidural local anesthetics and fentanyl on pam relief.
METHODS
100 patients scheduled for gynecologic low abdominal surgery were investigated. All patients were given 10cc of 0.25% bupivacaine with fentanyl 100 ug through epidural catheter. Group I was infused with combined 0.15% bupivacaine and fentanyl 5 ug/ml at a rate of 2cc/hr. Group II was infused with combined 0.15% bupivacaine and fentanyl 5 ug/ml and 150 ug of clonidine at a rate of 2cc/hr. Pain was assessed on a visual analogue pain scale for 2 postoperative days. Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and incidence of side effects were observed.
RESULTS
VAS observed 20min, 1hr, 1day, 2days after operation were significantly lower in Group II than Group I . Blood pressure and heart rates were significantly changed in Group II but not in Group I for 2 hours after epidural injection. The incidence of side effects was similar between Group I and Group II.
CONCLUSIONS
Continuous low-dose epidural clonidine infusion reduces blood pressure and heatt rates significantly but enhances postoperative analgesic effect of combined epidural bupivacaine and fentanyl without increased side effects.

Keyword

Pain; postoperative; Anesthetics; fentanyl; Anesthetic techniques; epidural; local; bupivacaine; Pharmacology; clonidine

MeSH Terms

Anesthetics
Anesthetics, Local
Blood Pressure
Bupivacaine*
Catheters
Clonidine*
Fentanyl*
Heart Rate
Humans
Incidence
Injections, Epidural
Pain Measurement
Pharmacology
Anesthetics
Anesthetics, Local
Bupivacaine
Clonidine
Fentanyl