J Korean Pain Soc.  2003 Dec;16(2):185-189.

Comparison of Sufentanil and Fentanyl Added to Ropivacaine for Patient-Controlled Thoracic Epidural Analgesia

• Kim DH
• Kang SH

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The analgesic effects and side effects of epidural sufentanil and fentanyl, combined with ropivacaine, for patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), were compared in post-thoracotomy patients. METHODS: In a double blind trial, 40 patients received either sufentanil, 0.83microgram/ml (group S), or fentanyl, 4microgram/ml (group F), added to 0.15% ropivacaine, for PCEA following a thoracic operation. The PCEA setting was a 4 ml loading dose, 4 ml bolus dose, 4 ml/h background infusion and a 10 min lockout interval, at 4 bolus limit per hour, with a total volume of 300 ml. The pain scores and side effects were recorded at 6, 12 and 24 hr after the operation. RESULTS: In group S, the analgesic efficacy was significantly higher between 12 and 24 hr after the operation than in group F (P < 0.05). There were no differences in incidences of pruritus, nausea, vomiting and sedation between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: When sufentanil, 0.83microgram/ml, was administered epidurally, with 0.15% ropivacaine, the improvement in the analgesic effect was better than that for fentanyl, 4microgram/ml, with no significant side effects.

Keyword

Fentanyl; Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA); Sufentanil

MeSH Terms

Analgesia, Epidural*
Fentanyl*
Humans
Incidence
Nausea
Pruritus
Sufentanil*
Vomiting
Fentanyl
Sufentanil