The Optimal Concentration of Ropivacaine in Combination with Butorphanol 50micro gram/ml for Patient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia

Abstract

Background: Opioids may be used in a dose-sparing capacity with local anesthetics to reduce the dose needed. This study examined the efficacy of different concentrations of ropivacaine combined with butorphanol 50/ml to provide postoperative analgesia. Methods: Sixty parturients were received epidural infusion with 0.075% ropivacaine (Group 1: n = 20), 0.1% ropivacaine (Group 2: n = 20) and 0.15% ropivacaine (Group 3: n = 20) in combination with butorphanol 50/ml using patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) after cesarean section. PCEA was started with basal infusion of 4 ml of PCEA solution and 4 ml of bolus infusion at 10 min of lockout interval. Using a visual analogue scale (VAS) assessed the degree of pain and incidences of side effects were checked. Results: Total infusion doses of ropivacaine were significantly higher in group 3, and butorphanol consumption were significantly lower in group 3 (P /ml for PCEA can provide the most effective analgesia with less side effects after cesarean section.