title: Treatment of ischemic pain in patients suffering from peripheral vasculopathy with transdermal buprenorphine plus epidural morphine with ropivacaine vs. epidural morphine with ropivacaine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the efficacy and safety of buprenorphine transdermal delivery system with peridural infusion of morphine and ropivacaine to peridural infusion alone for the control of ischemic pain in patients suffering from peripheral vasculopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-six patients were randomized into two groups. In the first group, a buprenorphine patch 35 microg/hour TTDS (transtec transdermal device plus ropivacaine and morphine) was applied, and a peridural infusion of ropivacaine/morphine (200 mg + 2 mg) was established. In the second group, ropivacaine and morphine analgesia was obtained using a peridural infusion and a placebo patch. The primary efficacy parameter was the visual analog scale score for pain. Secondary parameters of efficacy were the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire scores and a score for pain interference with sleep obtained from patient diaries evaluated every week for a period of 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects in the TTDS group reported a reduction in pain, increased sleep, and a lower incidence of side effects compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transdermal buprenorphine use resulted in significant pain relief with excellent patient satisfaction, which may translate into improvement in mood and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiological, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. caterina.aurilio@unina2.it
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aurilio
authors.forename: Maria Caterina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Maria Beatrice
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Passavanti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paladini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maisto
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iannotti
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pota
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'amora
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sansone
authors.forename: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbarisi
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009020:Morphine; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D003404:Creatinine