[Value of combined spinal and epidural anesthesia in the management of peroperative analgesia in prosthetic surgery of the lower limb. Prospective study of 68 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Efficient peri-operative analgesia is more comfortable, allows earlier mobilisation and better functional results for lower limb arthroplasties. We report our 60 cases prospective study of combined spinal and epidural anesthesia, and expose interests of this technique to control peri-operative pain.


METHODS
From 1994 to 1995, 60 patients ASA class 1 were operated: 45 total hip replacement (THR), 15 total knee replacement (TKR). The average age was sixty five years (range thirty nine to eighty five years). Combined spinal and epidural anesthesia was performed in every case.


METHODS
In lateral decubitus position, a translucent 25 Gauge needle was introduced in L2-L3 interspace. In a first time spinal anesthesia was made with 20 mg Bupivacaine. In a second time, a lumbar epidural catheter was inserted. All patients received an epidural post-operative analgesia with 4 mg Morphine once a day during two days and intravenous Paracetamol. Visual analogue scale (0 to 10) (VAS) were recorded after the third post operative hour and every twelve hours. During this period satisfaction mark was also recorded (1 to 3).


RESULTS
We didn't observe any case of respiratory depression or infection with the epidural catheter. We observed 10 cases of pruritus (one needed to stop protocol) and 18 urinary retentions. Six uretral catheters were necessary; we had one case of pyelonephritis (escherichia coli). The first micturition was obtained 13.5 hours after the end of surgery. For the fifty nine remaining patients, visual analogue scale was always inferior or equal to 2/10 and the satisfaction mark to 1/3.


CONCLUSIONS
Different techniques allow peri-operative analgesia, but a few are efficient during the first two days. Plexus nerve blocks are simple and reliable but post-operative anesthesia is short (inferior to 15 hours). Intravenous morphine controlled by patients themselves with programmed display needs expensive and sophisticated material. The principal risk is respiratory depression. Epidural morphine has a lower respiratory depression risk, but needs a heavier technique. The principal problems is higher incidence of urinary side effects. Epidural anesthesia might tend to show a greater efficacity with the best visual analogue scale and satisfaction mark.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that combined spinal and epidural anesthesia for the management of peri-operative pain provide an excellent pain control with a daily morphine injection. For lower limb arthroplasties, visual analogue scale is always inferior or equal to 2 and satisfaction mark equal to 1.
Cazeneuve
J F
JF
Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, CH de Laon.
Berlemont
D
D
Pouilly
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine
Intérêt de la péri-rachianesthésie combinée dans la prise en charge de la douleur péri-opératoire pour la chirurgie prothétique du membre inférieur. Etude prospective a propos de 60 cas.