The clinical observation of fentanyl reinforcement effect of epidural anesthesia with levobupivacaine

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different dosage of fen-tanyl plus levobupivacaine for lower limb surgery. Methods A total of 60 patients who were ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ, and who were subjected to surgery of lower limbs with epidural anaesthesia were randomised into three groups to re-ceive either 2 ml of saline or 50 or 75 micrograms of fentanyl in 2 ml volume added to 10 ml of 0.75% levobupivaeaine. Results Both doses of fentanyl intensified the epidural anaesthesia and reduced patients dis-comfort during the operation. The lack of motor blockade(MB) as evaluated by the modified Bromage scale was significantly higher in the levobupivacaine plus fentanyl groups than in the levobupivacaine group. Mild pruritus not requiring treatment was more common in fentanyl groups than in the saline group. Conclusion The results suggest that 50 micrograms of fentanyl added to 0. 75% levobupivacaine increases patient comfort and improves the quality of epidural anaesthesia for lower limb surgery, and that adding 75 micrograms does not give further advantage. Key words: Fentanyl; Levobupivacaine ; Epidural anesthesia