title: Patient-controlled epidural levobupivacaine with or without fentanyl for post-cesarean section pain relief.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic properties of levobupivacaine with or without fentanyl for patient-controlled epidural analgesia after Cesarean section in a randomized, double-blinded study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled American Society of Anesthesiologists class I/II, full-term pregnant women at National Taiwan University Hospital who received patient-controlled epidural analgesia after Cesarean section between 2009 and 2010. Eighty women were randomly assigned into two groups. In group A, the 40 subjects received drug solutions made of 0.6 mg/ml levobupivacaine plus 2 mcg/ml fentanyl, and in group B the 40 subjects received 1 mg/ml levobupivacaine. Maintenance was self-administered boluses and a continuous background infusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the resting and dynamic pain scales and total volume of drug used between the two groups. Patient satisfaction was good in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that pure epidural levobupivacaine can provide comparative analgesic properties to the levobupivacaine-fentanyl combination after Cesarean section. Pure levobupivacaine may serve as an alternative pain control regimen to avoid opioid-related adverse events in parturients.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 10361, Taiwan.
authors: Shin-Yan
authors: SY
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 10361, Taiwan.
authors: Feng-Lin
authors: FL
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 10361, Taiwan ; Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10031, Taiwan.
authors: Yih-Giun
authors: YG
authors: Cherng
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10002, Taiwan.
authors: Shou-Zen
authors: SZ
authors: Fan
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors: Barbara L
authors: BL
authors: Leighton
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 10361, Taiwan.
authors: Hung-Chi
authors: HC
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10002, Taiwan ; Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA ; Department of Anesthesiology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu City 30059, Taiwan.
authors: Li-Kuei
authors: LK
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D005283:Fentanyl; D002045:Bupivacaine