Continuous Epidural Infusion Analgesia with Buprenorphine and Bupivacaine for Postoperative Pain Relief

1ml•h^-1 versus 2ml • h^-1 infusion rate

Abstract

Epidural infusions of buprenorphine (18μg•ml^-1) combined with bupivacaine (2.3mg•ml^-1) at 1 ml •h^-1 were compared with those of buprenorphine (9μg•ml^-1) combined with bupivacaine (2.4mg•ml^-1) at 2ml•h^-1 for postoperative analgesia in 80 patients after elective major abdominal surgery. There were no significant differences between the two groups in supplementary analgesics, pain score and visual analogue scale.