J Korean Pain Soc.  1996 Jun;9(1):159-165.

The Evaluation of Epidural Analgesia for Postoperative Pain Relief after Upper Abdominal Surgery using the Mixture of Fentanyl, Bupivacaine and Clonidine

• Im WM
• Yoon MH
• Han SD

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia has been widely used for postoperative pain relief. However, it is not known which regimen provides the best result due to many variety. The aim of this study is to evaiuate the analgesia and side effects of epidural mixute of fentanyl, bupivacaine and clonidine, as one kind of regimen.
METHODS
One hundred adult patients scheduled for upper abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were evaluated. Epidural catheterization was done after operation. A bolus, 0. 1% bupivacaine 10 ml containing fentanvl 100 microgram, was administered and followed up with continuous infusion of mixture of fentanyl 600 microgram, 0.5% bupivacaine 20ml and clonidine 150 microgram at a rate of 2 ml, hr for 50 hours. Analgesia was assessed using VAS, PHS and PRS. Side effects and number of patients who took additional analgesics were evalutated Plasma samples were obtained to determine fentanyl concentration.
RESULTS
After the administrations of drugs, patients pain scores decreased notably, and pain relief scores increased significantly. Minimum side effects were noted. Twenty-one patients required additional analgesics. Plasma concentration of fentanyl was 0.07-0.14 ng/ml.
CONCLUSION
Epidural infusion of mixture of fentanyl, bupivacaine and clonidine is an effective regimen for postoperative pain relief after upper abdominal surgery.

Keyword

Analgesia: postoperative; Analgesics, epidural: fentanyl; bupivacaine; clonidine; Side effects

MeSH Terms

Adult
Analgesia
Analgesia, Epidural*
Analgesics
Anesthesia, General
Bupivacaine*
Catheterization
Catheters
Clonidine*
Fentanyl*
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Pain, Postoperative*
Plasma
Analgesics
Bupivacaine
Clonidine
Fentanyl