A Randomized Double-Blind Comparison of Epidural Sufentanil Versus Intravenous Sufentanil or Epidural Fentanyl Analgesia After Major Abdominal Surgery

Abstract

This randomized double-blind study compared epidural sufentanil (SEPI) with intravenous sufentanil (SIV) or epidural fentanyl (FEPI) analgesia in 45 patients after major abdominal operations. On first complaint of severe postoperative pain, SIV patients were given a 15-micrograms bolus and then a 5 micrograms/h infusion of sufentanil intravenously. SEPI patients were given the same bolus and infusion, but epidurally. FEPI patients had a 60-micrograms bolus and 20 micrograms/h infusion of fentanyl epidurally. All patients also received a bolus injection and then an infusion of coded saline via the alternate route. Analgesic requirements were tailored continuously to individual needs by patient-controlled supplementary boluses of 3.1 micrograms of sufentanil or 12.5 micrograms of fentanyl, or by 50% reduction in opiate infusion rate at predetermined intervals. Pain scores, circulatory variables, and respiratory rate did not differ between groups. Mean opiate dose requirements (+/- SD) to maintain analgesia for 24 h were 202 +/- 43 micrograms (SIV), 149 +/- 45 micrograms (SEPI), and 627 +/- 226 micrograms (FEPI). The relative analgesic potencies (AP) calculated from the equianalgesic dose requirement ratios were 1.4 for AP-sufentanil IV/EPI and 4.2 for AP-epidural F/S. SIV patients required more supplementary boluses than SEPI patients, were more sedated during the entire treatment, and had higher PaCO2 and higher serum sufentanil concentrations within the first 3 h of treatment. In addition, severe respiratory depression occurred in four SIV patients soon after the start of treatment, despite serum sufentanil concentrations of less than 0.3 ng/mL.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)