title: Epidural versus subcutaneous administration of alfentanil for the management of postoperative pain.
abstract: This study was designed to compare the efficacy and serum concentrations of alfentanil given subcutaneously (SQ) or epidurally (EPID) for treatment of postoperative pain. Following abdominal surgery, patients (n = 12) were randomly assigned to receive double-blind SQ or EPID alfentanil over 24 h via the allocated route (1 mg along with 0.2 mg/h and 0.2-mg boluses on demand) and saline via the other route of administration using a patient-controlled analgesic (PCA) delivery system. Significantly less EPID alfentanil produced better quality analgesia and fewer side effects than SQ alfentanil. The fact that EPID analgesia was maintained with serum alfentanil concentrations less than those producing systemic analgesia confirms the spinal site of the EPID alfentanil action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chrubasik
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chrubasik
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulte-Mönting
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015760:Alfentanil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015760:Alfentanil