title: Effect of piroxicam in addition to continuous thoracic epidural bupivacaine and morphine on postoperative pain and lung function after thoracotomy.
abstract: Twenty-eight patients scheduled for lung resection with lateral thoracotomy and postoperative chest drains during combined thoracic epidural bupivacaine plus morphine and general anaesthesia were studied. Postoperative pain treatment was continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine 0.25% 5 ml h-1 plus morphine 0.2 mg h-1 for 48 h and, in addition, the patients received rectal piroxicam 40 mg randomly and double-blind 12 h and 1 h before surgery and 20 mg 24 h-1 postoperatively or placebo. Pain was evaluated at rest, during cough and mobilisation, together with pulmonary function (FEV1, FVC, PEFR) and sensory level of analgesia repeatedly for 48 h. The results showed efficient pain relief, but without differences in pain scores or need for supplementary analgesics between the two groups. Pulmonary function decreased similarly in the two groups. Thus we were unable to show enhanced analgesia by supplementing an otherwise effective low-dose epidural bupivacaine and morphine treatment with piroxicam after thoracic surgery with chest drains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bigler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamp-Jensen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berthelsen
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Hjortsø
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kehlet
mesh_terms: D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000368:Aged; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015505:Chest Tubes; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D010894:Piroxicam; D009020:Morphine; D002045:Bupivacaine