title: [Effects of epidural clonidine pretreatment in epidural patient-controlled analgesia using sufentanil combined with levobupivacaine].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical effects of epidural clonidine pretreatment in epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) using sufentanil combined with levobupivacaine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy of ASA status I-II were randomly divided into 3 equal groups: C2 group was pretreated with epidural clonidine 2 microg/kg at the L2-3 interspace, 15 min later, epidural anesthesia was performed with 0.5% levobupivacaine, and then 0. 4 microg/ml combined with levobupivacaine 2 mg/ml was given for postoperative epidural patient-controlled analgesia. C4 group was pretreated with epidural clonidine 4 microg/kg, and C0 group was pretreated with normal saline. The analgesic effect, PCA drug dosage, adverse reaction, and visual analog scale (VAS) score were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anesthesia was clinically satisfactory in all patients. The rate of atropine use of the C4 group was 30%, significantly higher than those of the C2 group (15% ) and C0 group (5%, both P < 0.05). The rate of VAS < or = 3 at rest 24 h postoperatively of the C2 and C4 groups were 88% and 93% respectively, both significantly higher than that of the C0 group (75%, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01). The rate of VAS < or = 3 while coughing 24 h postoperatively of the C2 and C4 groups were 61% and 79% respectively, both significantly higher than that of the C0 group (48%). The dosages of PCA drug of the C2 and C4 groups were significantly lower than that of the C0 group by 11.8% and 22.8% respectively (both P < 0.05). The dosage of PCA drug 0-4 h after operation of the C2 was significantly higher than that of the C4 group. The sedative degree of the C4 group was higher than that of the C0 group. The rate of postoperative vomiting of the C0 group was 40%, significantly higher than that of the C4 group (10%, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidural clonidine 2-4 microg/kg pretreatment improves the clinical effects of epidural PCA using sufentanil combined with levobupivacaine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, First Municipal Hospital of Guangzhou Affliated to Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510180, China. xc_ruan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xiang-cai
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Li-xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shou-zhang
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: She
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Xiao-qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000379:methods*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D017409:Sufentanil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D017409:Sufentanil; D003000:Clonidine; D002045:Bupivacaine