Korean J Anesthesiol.  1999 Sep;37(3):453-458. 10.4097/kjae.1999.37.3.453.

A Comparison of Thoracic Versus Lumbar Epidural Meperidine for Analgesia after Thoracotomy

• Park JS
• Lee SG
• Kim JI
• Ban JS
• Min BW

• KMID: 2240048
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.1999.37.3.453

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Meperidine, having intermediate lipid solubility, permits postthoracotomy analgesia. The aim of this study is to compare the analgesic efficacy, side effects, and patient satisfactions of istered thoracic versus lumbar epidural route anesthesia during the first 48 hours postthoracotomy.
METHODS
A prospective randomized study was conducted for 48 hours after thoracotomy with ridine administered 50 mg as a bolus and continuously at 0.21 mg/kg/hr via either a thoracic (group T), or a lumbar (group L) epidural catheter at the end of the operation. Postoperative pain was assessed 2, 8, 24, 48 hours after the operation on a visual analog scale (VAS). Side effects and levels of patient ction of the epidural analgesia were assessed.
RESULTS
There were no significant intergroup differences in heart rate, blood pressure, pain score, side effects and levels of patient satisfaction with analgesia.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that there is no difference between thoracic and lumbar epidural eridine analgesia for postthoracotomy pain relief.

Keyword

Analgesia, postthoracotomy; Analgesics, meperidine; Anesthetic techniques, epidural, lumbar, thoracic

MeSH Terms

Analgesia*
Analgesia, Epidural
Anesthesia
Blood Pressure
Catheters
Heart Rate
Humans
Meperidine*
Pain, Postoperative
Patient Satisfaction
Prospective Studies
Solubility
Thoracotomy*
Visual Analog Scale
Meperidine