[Thoracic epidural and intrathecal analgesia have similar effects on pain relief and respiratory function after thoracic surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To compare in a prospective randomized trial the effects of thoracic epidural infusions of fentanyl (F) and bupivacaine (B) to intrathecal morphine (M) and sufentanil (S) on analgesia and respiratory function following thoracotomy.


METHODS
55 patients undergoing an elective postero-lateral thoracotomy were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group I (n = 27): received intrathecal S (5 microg) and M (0.5 mg) one hour before surgery. Group II (n = 28) received, after induction of anesthesia, an initial dose of 10 to 20 mL of a solution of B 0.25% and F 2 microg.mL(-1) via an epidural thoracic catheter previously inserted between T5 and T8. The same solution was infused during surgery. After surgery, patients received a continuous infusion of B 0.1% and F 2 microg.mL(-1) with a bolus every 15 min if needed. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), SpO(2), PaCO(2), respiratory rate (RR), forced expiratory volume in one second, peak expiratory flow rate and forced vital capacity were recorded at different times from the day before surgery till T48 = 48 hr after surgery. Subjective pain was assessed using a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) scoring at rest and during cough.


RESULTS
No significant difference was noted between both groups concerning VAS, HR, MAP, SpO(2), PaCO(2) and RR. Variations of the respiratory function tests were identical in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that intrathecal M and S offer analgesia comparable to thoracic epidural infusion of B and F.
Madi-Jebara
Samia
S
Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu de France, Beyrouth, Liban. vix@dm.net.lb
Adaimé
Céline
C
Yazigi
Alexandre
A
Haddad
Fadia
F
Hayek
Gemma
G
Sleilaty
Ghassan
G
Antakly
Marie-Claire
MC
D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D017409:Sufentanil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013908:Thoracotomy
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009020:Morphine; D017409:Sufentanil; D010100:Oxygen; D005283:Fentanyl; D002045:Bupivacaine