Etidocaine in intercostal nerve block for pain relief after thoracotomy; a comparison with bupivacaine.
For pain relief after thoracotomy, intercostal nerve block with etidocaine 1% and bupivacaine 0.5%, both containing adrenaline 5 mug/ml, was used. Duration of skin analgesia for sharp pain was around 11 hours for both solutions. Post-operative pain was noted 6 and 5 hours after injection for etidocaine and bupivacaine respectively. No pathological changes in acid-base balance or ventilation were observed. Peak expiratory flow decreased to 35-40% of the pre-operative values and remained at this level for about 12 hours. Arterial and venous blood levels of the local anaesthetics were low and no signs of toxicity were noted. All patients experienced a certain pain relief from the blocks. Because of shoulder pain in some patients intercostal nerve block alone does not seem to be a perfect post-operative method for pain relief after thoracotomies.
D000083:Acetanilides / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002254:Carbonates / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004837:Epinephrine; D005041:Etidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000187:drug effects*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery; D013909:Thorax / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
D000083:Acetanilides; D002254:Carbonates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005041:Etidocaine; D010100:Oxygen; D002045:Bupivacaine; D004837:Epinephrine