Abstract
Effects of postoperative pain relief produced by continuous epidural infusion with bupivacaine (1ml /hr) were evaluated in patients underwent thoracotomy (group A, n=14), those underwent upper abdominal surgery (group B, n=21), and those underwent lower abdominal surgery (group C, n=15). The patients were initially received 8ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and 0.1mg of buprenorphine at recovery room in operating theater and were continuously received the 0.25% bupivacaine at the rate of 1 ml /hr by a disposable nonelectrical portable pump. The patients who did not need additional narcotics for the first postoperatvie 24-hours in group A, group B and group C were 21%, 29% and 67%, respectively. Those for the second postoperatvie 24-hours in each group was 43%, 62% and 67%, respectively. The authors concluded that epidural injection with buprenorphine 0.1 mg and continuous epidural infusion with 0.25 bupivacaine at the rate of 1 ml/hr have a slight effectiveness for postoperative pain management in the patients underwent lower abdominal surgery. However, this procedure was disappointing in the patients underwent thoracotomy or upper abdominal surgery.
