Abstract
We examined the role of caudal epidural block as an adjunct to postoperative pain management in normal adult donors undergoing bone marrow harvest.
Thirty-nine bone marrow donors were enrolled in this study from April 1993 through January 1996.
Caudal epidural block using 1.0-1.5% lidocaine 20ml or 0.25% bupivacaine 20ml and narcotics (morphine 2mg or fentanyl 0.lmg) were combined with general anesthesia (sevoflurane/N2O) in 18 patients, while general anesthesia alone was administered in 21 patients.
Postoperative analgesics (diclofenac sodium) were requested by 3 donors (16.7%) who received caudal epidural block, while 14 donors (66.7%) who received general anesthesia alone required analgesics postoperatively.
There were no differences between the two groups in frequencies of nausea, vomiting or other complications.
Our results indicate that caudal epidural block is as effective as postoperative analgesia in normal adults who undergo bone marrow harvest.
