Korean J Anesthesiol.  2007 Dec;53(6):746-752. 10.4097/kjae.2007.53.6.746.

Postoperative Epidural Analgesia using 0.1% Levobupivacaine or 0.1% Ropivacaine Combined with Sufentanil in Gynecologic Surgery

• Yang CW
• Park JM
• Lim YS
• Cho CK
• Kim KS
• Kim EK
• Jung SM

• KMID: 1937343
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2007.53.6.746

Abstract

BACKGOUND: Ropivacaine and levobupivacaine are recently introduced amide local anesthetics that are structurally similar to bupivacaine. In this study, we compared the quality of postoperative analgesia and the side effects of 0.1% ropivacaine/sufentanil and 0.1% levobupivacaine/sufentanil.
METHODS
Sixty patients scheduled for gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia were randomized to receive either 0.1% ropivacaine with sufentanil (ropivacaine group) or 0.1% levobupivacaine with sufentanil (levobupivacaine group) for postoperative epidural analgesia using a patient-controlled analgesia pump at a rate of 5 ml/h during the 48 hour period following surgery. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at rest and on coughing, sitting and movement, the degree of ambulation, additional analgesic requirements and side effects were assessed.
RESULTS
In the levobupivacaine group, VAS scores at rest and on coughing, sitting and movement were lower than in the ropivacaine group (P < 0.05). In the ropivacaine group more patients were able to walk unaided (P < 0.05). There were no differences in local anesthetic consumption, additional analgesic requirements and side effects between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Both 0.1% ropivacaine with sufentanil and 0.1% levobupivacaine with sufentanil provided effective postoperative epidural analgesia, but ropivacaine produced lesser motor block.

Keyword

epidural; gynecologic surgery; levobupivacaine; postoperative analgesia; ropivacaine; sufentanil

MeSH Terms

Analgesia
Analgesia, Epidural*
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled
Anesthesia, General
Anesthetics, Local
Bupivacaine
Cough
Female
Gynecologic Surgical Procedures*
Humans
Sufentanil*
Walking
Anesthetics, Local
Bupivacaine
Sufentanil