The effect of intravenous tenoxicam on pruritus in patients receiving epidural fentanyl.
In this prospective randomised study, pruritus and pain were evaluated in patients undergoing abdominal surgery during which epidural fentanyl was administered. All patients had an epidural catheter inserted at the time of surgery. Epidural fentanyl 100 micrograms was administered intra-operatively and infused at a concentration of 2 micrograms.ml-1 for 48 h postoperatively. All patients received a standard anaesthetic and, in addition, the study group had a 20 mg bolus of tenoxicam intravenously, intra-operatively. Patients receiving tenoxicam demonstrated significantly lower pruritus and pain scores at 30 min, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h postoperatively as well as reduced pethidine requirements for breakthrough pain in the first 24 h. In conclusion, tenoxicam 20 mg significantly reduces the incidence and severity of postoperative pruritus in patients who received peri-operative epidural fentanyl. In addition, it significantly reduces pain and further analgesic requirements postoperatively.
Colbert
S
S
Department of Anaesthesia, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
O'Hanlon
D M
DM
Chambers
F
F
Moriarty
D C
DC
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D010894:Piroxicam; D005283:Fentanyl; C032801:tenoxicam