Effects of clonidine preemptive analgesia on acute postoperative pain in abdominal surgery

Preemptive analgesia refers to blockade of afferent nerve fibers before a painful stimulus, which prevents or reduces subsequent pain even beyond the effect of the block. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of clonidine used before and at the end of operation on pain control in abdominal surgery. A total of 77 patients admitted for colorectal surgery were randomly classified into three groups: epidural clonidine before operation, epidural clonidine at the end of operation, and control group. After the operation on patient demand, analgesia with boluses of epidural morphine was instituted. The parameters of postoperative pain level using VAS score (visual analog scale), sedation and analgesics consumption were determined as outcome measures at 1, 2, 6, and 24 h of the operation. Clonidine administered before operation provided lowest pain scores at 6 and 24 h (p < 0.05). Clonidine administered at the end of operation had low pain scores at 1 and 2 h, with a significant pain breakthrough thereafter (6.93 +/- 1.66 at 6 h and 4.04 +/- 2.39 at 24 h) compared with the group administered clonidine before operation (3.60 +/- 2.94 and 3.71 +/- 1.82). Clonidine administered before operation provided less sedation (p < 0.05) and a significantly lower use of analgesics (p < 0.05). Blockade of nociceptive stimulus using the centrally acting alpha2-adrenergic agonist clonidine before the onset of pain stimulus resulted in reduced pain levels, sedation and analgesic requirement.     

The influence of women’s attachment style on the chronobiology of labour pain,analgesic consumption and pharmacological effect

Circadian variation in biological rhythms has been identified as affecting both labour pain and the pharmacological properties of analgesics. In the context of pain, there is also a growing body of evidence suggesting the importance of adult attachment. The purpose of this study was to examine whether labour pain, analgesic consumption and pharmacological effect are significantly affected by the time of day and to analyse whether this circadian variation is influenced by women’s attachment style. This prospective observational study included a sample of 81 pregnant women receiving patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). Attachment was assessed with the Adult Attachment Scale – Revised. The perceived intensity of labour pain in the early stage of labour (3?cm of cervical dilatation and before the administration of PCEA) was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Pain was also indirectly assessed by measuring the consumption of anaesthetics. The latency period and the duration of effect were recorded for a chronopharmacology characterisation. Pain, as assessed with the VAS, was significantly higher in the night-time group than in the daytime group. An insecure attachment style was significantly associated with greater labour pain at 3?cm of cervical dilatation (p?<?0.001) and before the beginning of analgesia (p?<?0.001) as well as with higher analgesic consumption and lower pharmacological efficacy (p?<?0.05). The time of day was significantly associated with the pharmacological effect: the latency period was longer at night, and the duration of the pharmacological effect was longer during the daytime. The interaction between time of day and attachment style was not significant for any of the study variables. Our results provide evidence of the importance of circadian variation in studying labour pain and the pharmacological effect of labour analgesia involving epidural blockage with a PCEA regimen. Moreover, although there was no evidence that attachment style influenced the circadian variation, these data emphasise that insecure attachment patterns are a risk factor for greater labour pain and analgesic consumption, which should be considered in pain management approaches.     

硬膜外腔单次注射吗啡联合地佐辛静脉用于剖宫产术后镇痛的疗效及对患者血清5-羟色胺、泌乳素水平的影响

目的:探讨硬膜外腔单次注射吗啡联合地佐辛静脉用于剖宫产术后镇痛的疗效及对患者血清5-羟色胺、泌乳素水平的影响。方法:选择2016年1月至2018年11月择期进行剖宫产的产妇80例,按照随机数字法将其分为观察组和对照组,每组各40例。对照组采用硬膜外腔单次注射吗啡自控镇痛,观察组采用硬膜外腔单次注射吗啡联合地佐辛静脉自控镇痛。采用视觉模拟评分法(VAS)评估两组产妇术后镇痛效果,酶联免疫法及化学发光法分别测定产妇术前、术后6 h、12 h、24 h和48 h血清5-羟色胺水平及泌乳素水平,并观察两组产妇术后不良反应的发生情况。结果:两组产妇患者术后VAS评分随着时间延长逐渐降低,观察组术后第6 h、12 h、24 h以及48 h的VAS评分均显著低于对照组(P0.05);两组产妇术后血清5-羟色胺水平均较术前明显降低(P0.05),而血清泌乳素均较术前显著升高(P0.05),且观察组术后第6 h、12 h、24 h以及48 h血清5-羟色胺水平均显著低于对照组(P0.05),而血清泌乳素浓度均明显高于对照组(P0.05)。两组产妇患者术后均未出现呼吸抑制,对照组恶心(Nausea)、呕吐、头晕、皮肤瘙痒的发生率明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:硬膜外腔单次注射吗啡联合地佐辛静脉用于剖宫产术后镇痛疗效及安全性均较硬膜外腔单次注射吗啡自控镇痛更好,产妇术后血清泌乳素及5-羟色胺浓度显著提高,对于产后抑郁的发病可能有一定的抑制作用,也有利于产妇术后恢复,尽早哺乳。     

右美沙芬用于80 例胆囊切除术后镇痛的临床观察与分析

目的:观察和分析右美沙芬用于80例胆囊切除术的超前镇痛作用临床疗效。方法:将2009年8月~2011年11月我院接收并确诊的80例ASAⅠ~Ⅱ级择期行腹腔镜胆囊切除手术患者,按患者意愿随机分为两组。治疗组40例,麻醉诱导前30min肌注右美沙芬20mg;对照组40例,麻醉诱导前30min肌注等量生理盐水。术中监测患者的血氧饱和度值、心率、平均动脉压等;术后统计术中(除麻醉诱导外)镇痛药的用量,并对患者伤口疼痛进行VAS评分。结果:对照组术中镇痛药(除麻醉诱导外)用量大于治疗组,但二者无统计学差异(P>0.05),术后伤口无痛者治疗组明显多于对照组,治疗组VAS评分显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论:右美沙芬对于胆囊切除术有超前镇痛的作用,麻醉诱导前30 min肌注20mg,不仅可以减少术中镇痛药的用量,而且在更大程度上减轻了术后患者伤口的疼痛。     

舒芬太尼复合吗啡硬膜外术后镇痛的最佳剂量配伍

目的：观察腹式子宫全切术后硬膜外镇痛应用舒芬太尼复合吗啡时两种药物不同剂量的镇痛效果和不良反应,以寻找其最佳剂量配伍。方法：选择90例美国麻醉医师协会（ASA）标准Ⅰ-Ⅱ级、年龄20-60岁拟行腹式子宫全切术的病人,均实施腰硬联合麻醉。随机分成3组,每组30例：Ⅰ组：舒芬太尼10μg＋吗啡2 mg＋氟哌利多1 mg＋1%罗哌卡因20 mg;Ⅱ组：舒芬太尼15μg＋吗啡1.5 mg＋氟哌利多1 mg＋1%罗哌卡因20 mg;Ⅲ组：舒芬太尼20μg＋吗啡1 mg＋氟哌利多1 mg＋1%罗哌卡因20mg。术中监测生命体征,记录术后24小时内的镇痛效果、不良反应及辅助镇痛药物的使用情况。镇痛效果评价采用视觉模拟评分（visual analogue scale,VAS）标准。结果：2组各个时间点VAS评分均明显低于1组（P〈0.05）,在术后6 h,8 h,12 h,18 h,24 h与3组有统计学差异（P〈0.05）,3组在2 h,4 h,6 h的VAS评分低于1组（P〈0.05）;2组恶心评分与3组相比明显较低（P〈0.05）,其他不良反应三组间没有统计学差异;各组患者在术后24h内辅助镇痛药物使用情况比较无统计学差异（P〉0.05）。结论：舒芬太尼15μg复合吗啡1.5 mg用于腹式子宫全切术后硬膜外镇痛效果优于其他常用剂量配伍,镇痛效果平稳确切且不良反应少,具有临床应用价值。     

不同麻醉和术后镇痛方式对中老年胸科手术后胰岛素抵抗的影响

目的：探讨不同麻醉和术后镇痛方式对中老年胸科手术后胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法：中老年胸科手术患者80例随机分为治疗组与对照组各40例,两组都采用开胸手术治疗,于手术结束前30min硬膜外腔给予镇痛,治疗组采用舒芬太尼镇痛,对照组采用地佐辛镇痛。结果：两组镇痛后2h与镇痛后24h的HR和MVP对比差异明显（P〈0．05）,同时对照组不同时间点的组内对比差异明显（P〈0．05）,治疗组组内对比无明显差异。治疗组在镇痛后2h与镇痛后24h的VAS评分都明显少于对照组（P〈0．05）,Ramsay评分治疗组高于对照组（P〈0．05）。治疗组组内不同时间点胰岛素含量和胰岛素敏感性对比无明显差异,而对照组对比差异明显（P〈0．05）,同时镇痛后组间对比也有明显差异（P〈0．05）。结论：相对于地佐辛,舒芬太尼用于中老年胸科手术术后疼痛镇痛效果良好,能有效地抑制胰岛素抵抗与应激反应的发生,有很好的应用效果。     

Duration of effects on clinical parameters and referred hyperalgesia in rats after abdominal surgery and multiple doses of analgesic

This study evaluated the duration of clinical effects and referred hyperalgesia in rats (n = 10 per group) undergo ing abdominal surgery with analgesics (ketoprofen at 3 mg/kg and buprenorphine at 0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg) administered intramuscularly twice daily for 72 h beginning prior to surgery; no-surgery and no-analgesia control groups were included. Food and water consumption and body weight were monitored daily. As a measure of referred hyperalgesia, tail-flick latency was measured daily, before and 4 h after analgesia administration. Compared with those of the no-surgery controls, significant decreases in food consumption and body weight occurred 24 h after surgery without analgesics. There were nonsignificant reductions in these effects by analgesics, but the benefits were not significantly different than those of saline. These parameters continued to be decreased with variable significance in the buprenorphine groups at 48 and 72 h after surgery. In both buprenorphine-treated groups, water consumption was significantly increased at 24 h after surgery but not at 48 or 72 h. Tail-flick latency was not significantly different between the no-surgery and no-analgesia groups but was significantly increased 4 h after high-dose buprenorphine administration and declined nonsignificantly over time in the other groups. We conclude that painful effects from surgery are present primarily during the first 24 h after surgery. The analgesic regimens tested did not completely reduce these effects. Buprenorphine was associated with adverse effects for as long as 72 h after surgery. Referred hyperalgesia from this abdominal surgery could not be measured using the tail-flick assay.     

不同剂量地佐辛用于腹腔镜妇科手术超前镇痛的效果观察

目的：观察不同剂量地佐辛用于腹腔镜妇科手术超前镇痛的效果。方法：将90例ASAI．II级、年龄18~60岁拟行腹腔镜妇科手术的患者随机分成3组,每组30例,A组给予地佐辛0．1mg／kg开皮前15rain静脉注射;B组给予地佐辛0．15mg／kg开皮前15min静脉注射;C组给予地佐辛0．2mg／kg开皮前15min静脉注射,采用VAS评分评估术后镇痛效果并观察术后辅助镇痛药物的使用和不良反应的发生情况。结果：B、c组术后2、4、6、8h的VAS评分明显低于A组（P〈0．05）;C组术后2、4h的Ramsay评分明显高于A、B组（P〈0.05）;A组术后辅助镇痛药的使用率明显高于B组和C组（P／0．05）;3组不良反应的发生率比较均无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论：开皮前15rain静注地佐辛0．15mg／kg用于腹腔镜妇科手术镇痛效果好,且不增加不良反应的发生率。     

肺癌根治术后不同镇痛方式的临床效果比较

目的：观察和比较硬膜外自控镇痛（PCEA）和静脉自控镇痛（PCIA）用于肺癌根治术患者围术期的镇痛效果及其不良反应的发生情况。方法：选择择期全麻下行肺癌根治性切除术的患者1214例,ASAI～II级,依镇痛方式不同分为硬膜外自控镇痛组（PCEA组,n=1023）和静脉自控镇痛组（PCtA组,n=191）。观察围术期两组患者镇痛效果、不良反应及术后康复情况。结果：PCEA组术后2h静止状态下和术后6h、24h活动状态下VAS评分均明显低于PCIA组（P〈O．05）;术后48h的Ramsay评分明显低于PCIA组（P〈0．05）;术后住院时间明显短于PCIA组（P〈0．05）;肺部并发症的发生率、切口感染和术后谵妄、恶心呕吐的发生率均明显低于PCIA组（P〈0．01）。结论：PCEA和PCIA两种镇痛方式用于肺癌根治术患者围术期均可达到满意的临床镇痛效果,但PCEA的用药量更少,镇静作用轻,副反应少,并可以降低肺感染和切口感染的几率,缩短住院时间,更有利于肺癌根治术患者的镇痛和康复。     

患者静脉自控镇痛与患者硬膜外自控镇痛的比较

术后自控镇痛方法有：患者静脉自控镇痛（Patient-controlled Intravenous Analgesia, PCIA）、患者硬膜外自控镇痛 (Patient-controlled Epidural Analgesia, PCEA）、患者区域自控镇痛（Patient-controlled Regional Analgesia, PCRA)、患者皮下自控镇痛 (Patient-controlled Subcutaneous Analgesia, PCSA)、患者自控鼻内镇痛（Patient-controlled intranasal analgesia, PCINA)、芬太尼HCI 电离子渗入疗法经皮系统（Fentanyl Iontophoretic Transdermal System, ITS)和连续椎旁阻滞（Continuous Paravertebral block, CPVB） 等。目前在临床工作中较常使用的主要是PCIA 和PCEA。有研究报道,与PCIA 比较,PCEA 镇痛效果更确切,恶心、呕吐及嗜睡发 生率低;但也有报道认为,与PCEA 相比,PCIA 实施相对方便,同时也可以提供令患者满意的镇痛效果,适用范围更广。目前对于 这两种镇痛方法的效果优劣尚无确切的定论,在此就PCIA 和PCEA的镇痛药物特点、镇痛效果、副反应及对免疫功能和肿瘤患 者远期生存率的影响作一综述。     

腰丛-坐骨神经阻滞与腰硬联合麻醉用于老年患者下肢手术中的效果比较

目的:分析和比较两种不同麻醉方式(腰丛-坐骨神经阻滞麻醉与腰硬联合麻醉)对老年患者下肢骨折手术中的效果。方法:以我院收治的下肢骨折拟行手术治疗的老年患者158例作为研究对象,将其随机分为腰硬联合麻醉组(CSEA)和腰丛-坐骨神经阻滞组(LPSB),每组各79例。CSEA组采用腰硬联合麻醉,LPSB组采用腰丛-坐骨神经阻滞,比较两组患者感觉阻滞起效时间、运动阻滞起效时间、运动恢复时间、维持时间、疼痛感觉评分和并发症的发生状况。结果:CSEA组和LPSB分别有1例和3例患者因局部麻醉失效而需全身麻醉;LPSB组的感觉阻滞起效时间、运动阻滞起效时间、运动恢复时间均显著晚于CSEA组,但其维持时间显著长于CSEA组,患者疼痛感觉评分低于CSEA组(P0.05)。结论:与腰硬联合麻醉相比,腰丛-坐骨神经阻滞能为老年下肢骨折手术患者提供有效的单侧麻醉,且安全性高,可作为下肢骨科手术患者的首选麻醉方案。     

骨科术后疼痛的原因分析及对策研究

目的:总结骨科术后疼痛的原因,并采取合适对策,以期降低骨科患者疼痛,提高满意度。方法:选取2012年1月-2015年1月1500例骨科手术患者为研究对象,总结引起疼痛的原因,并按照住院号单双号分成2组,对照组给予双氯芬酸钠栓镇痛,观察组采用镇痛泵镇痛,根据麻醉情况选择静脉镇痛或硬膜外镇痛,给予舒芬太尼或地佐辛镇痛,观察两组治疗前后相关指标的变化情况。结果:骨科术后疼痛原因以手术创伤为主,占92.93%,其次是手术体位限制,占53.07%,尿潴留占37.07%。两组治疗后SAS、SDS评分均较治疗前显著下降,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),观察组治疗后SAS、SDS评分较对照组治疗后改善更加显著(P0.05)。观察组治疗后3 h、10 h、1 d、3 d、7 d VAS评分均较治疗前显著下降(P0.05),对照组治疗后3 d、7 d VAS评分较治疗前显著下降(P0.05),观察组治疗后3 h、10 h、1 d、3 d VAS评分较对照组改善更加显著(P0.05)。结论:骨科术后疼痛原因主要与手术创伤、手术体位限制有关,使用镇痛泵辅以及心理疏导能有效缓解骨科术后患者的对疼痛的感知,改善患者术后的生活质量。     

右美托咪定对髋关节术后患者认知功能、血液动力学影响及临床疗效

目的:探讨右美托咪定对髋关节术后患者认知功能、血液动力学及镇痛效果。方法:选取我院近3年所收治的80例髋关节手术患者,按照不同麻醉方式,将其随机分为研究组和对照组,每组患者40例,研究组患者微量泵注右美托咪定,对照组患者泵注生理盐水,对比不同麻醉方式对患者术后认知功能、血液动力学及镇痛效果。结果:在麻醉诱导前及手术后3 d,两组患者简短精神状态量表(Mini-mental State Examination, MMSE)评分对比无统计学差异(P0.05),在手术后1 d、2 d,研究组患者MMSE评分明显高于对照组(P0.05),研究组患者术后认知障碍(Post operative cognitive dysfunction,POCD)发生率明显低于对照组(P0.05);两组患者麻醉诱导前各血流动力学指标舒张压(Diastolic blood pressure,DBP)、心率(Heart rate,HR)、收缩压(Systolic blood pressure,SBP)对比无显著性差异(P0.05),在气管插管时、拔管时、拔管后15 min,研究组患者HR、SBP、DBP均明显低于对照组(P0.05);研究组患者手术后1 h、2 h、6 h、12 h、24 h运动状态及静息状态视觉模拟评分法(Visual analog scales,VAS)疼痛评分明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:对髋关节置换术患者行右美托咪定,降低患者术后认知功能障碍发生率,维持患者血流动力学稳定性,镇痛效果良好,值得临床上广泛应用。     

Effects of epidural administration of xylazine or lidocaine on bovine uterine motility and perineal analgesia

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of caudal epidural (sacral-coccygeal interspace) administration of xylazine or lidocaine on uterine motility and perineal analgesia in the cow. Six Holstein cows (7 d post estrus) were assigned to one of three treatment groups: control (5 ml saline); lidocaine (0.2 mg/kg, 2% solution); and xylazine (0.06 mg/kg suspended in 5 ml saline), with each cow randomly assigned to each treatment over a period of three estrous cycles. Uterine motility, perineal analgesia, electrocardiography, and overt signs of sedation were recorded. Data were collected at 10-min intervals starting 10 min before treatment and continuing until 60 min post treatment. At 60 min post treatment, oxytocin (20 USP units) was administered i.v. to serve as a positive control for uterine motility. In the xylazine group, uterine motility significantly (P < 0.05) increased at 20 min post treatment, peaked at 30 min, and gradually decreased to non-significant levels at 50 min post treatment when compared with the lidocaine and control groups. Additionally, xylazine produced a higher degree and longer duration of perineal analgesia than lidocaine. Systemically, epidural xylazine produced signs of sedation, salivation, vocalization and bradycardia. Ataxia was also observed in the xylazine-treated group which may have been induced through a local and/or systemic effect. The individual properties of xylazine and lidocaine should be taken into consideration when performing an obstetrical procedure requiring the use of an epidural analgesic agent, and they should be utilized to benefit the clinician in performing the procedure.     

Effectiveness of pain relief in labour: survey of 1000 mothers

The amount of pain that had been experienced by 1000 women during vaginal delivery of a live child was determined by interview within 48 hours of delivery. Patients had been offered a choice of analgesia, and 536 had received epidural analgesia: pain relief was greatest in this group, just over half having had a painless labour. The duration of pain was also reduced by a third in this group even though patients who had received an epidural block had tended to have longer labour and an incidence of assisted delivery of 51% compared with 6% in the remainder. Seventy-two per cent of the patients receiving an epidural had had as much pain as they had expected. A similar proportion (70%) was reported with simpler analgesic methods, suggesting that women may expect a certain amount of pain in labour and request further analgesic treatment when this is exceeded.     

小剂量纳洛酮硬膜外应用对胃癌术后芬太尼静脉自控镇痛效果及胃肠功能的影响

目的:探讨小剂量纳洛酮硬膜外应用对胃癌术后芬太尼静脉自控镇痛效果及胃肠功能的影响。方法:选取我院2010年7月-2015年7月收治的110例胃癌患者为研究对象,将所有患者随机分为试验组和对照组各55例,两组患者均行根治性肿瘤切除术,术后采用芬太尼静脉自控镇痛,试验组于术后硬膜外注入小剂量纳洛酮,对照组注入等量的生理盐水,对两组术后不同时间点(4 h、8 h、12 h、24 h)疼痛程度进行评分,对比两组肠鸣音恢复时间、肛门排气时间、肛门排便时间、胃动力恢复时间,镇痛泵药物消耗量及并发症发生率。结果:术后4 h,试验组疼痛评分明显低于对照组(P0.05),术后8 h、12 h两组患者的疼痛评分均有显著上升(P0.05),且试验组患者的疼痛评分均远低于对照组(均P0.05),术后24 h,试验组与术后12 h比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),对照组术后24 h疼痛评分与术后12 h分相比有显著差异(P0.01);试验组患者肠鸣音恢复时间、肛门排气时间、肛门排便时间、胃动力恢复时间、镇痛泵药物消耗量、芬太尼用量均远远低于对照组(P0.05);试验组并发症总发生率(7.27%)远远低于对照组(23.64%),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:采用小剂量纳洛酮硬膜外应用方法辅助术后镇痛可以有效的减轻患者的疼痛,降低并发症的发生率,促进胃肠功能恢复,疗效显著,值得在临床上推广使用。     

A comparison of pre- and post-surgical administration of bupivacaine or buprenorphine following laparotomy in the rat

The effects of bupivacaine, a long-acting local anaesthetic, and buprenorphine, an opioid analgesic, administered either pre- or post-operatively, were investigated in a rat laparotomy model. Surgical anaesthesia was induced and maintained with halothane. The type of analgesic treatment was a significant factor in the reduction in body weight and food and water intake which occurred following surgery. The largest reductions were seen in the bupivacaine-treated groups and those animals which received no analgesics. The timing of administration of analgesics had no influence on the effect of bupivacaine administration. The group receiving buprenorphine before surgery showed less depression in food intake than the group receiving buprenorphine at the end of surgery. Animals which received buprenorphine showed less depression of activity than those receiving saline or bupivacaine.     

右美托咪定复合曲马多超前镇痛对骨关节置换术患者镇痛效果、血流动力学及认知功能的影响

目的:探讨右美托咪定复合曲马多超前镇痛对骨关节置换术患者镇痛效果、血流动力学及认知功能的影响。方法:选取2015年2月~2018年12月期间武警陕西省总队医院收治的行骨关节置换术患者121例,根据数表法将患者随机分为对照组(n=60)和研究组(n=61),其中对照组给予曲马多超前镇痛,研究组在对照组的基础上联合右美托咪定,比较两组患者镇痛效果、血流动力学指标及认知功能,记录两组手术期间不良反应发生情况。结果:研究组术后4 h(T2)、术后8 h(T3)、术后12 h(T4)、术后24 h(T5)时间点视觉模拟评分(VAS)低于对照组(P<0.05)。研究组T2~T5时间点心率(HR)、平均动脉压(MAP)低于对照组,血氧饱和度(SPO2)则高于对照组(P<0.05)。研究组术后3 d、术后1周简易精神状态量表(MMSE)评分较对照组升高,中枢神经特异蛋白(S100β)水平则低于对照组(P<0.05)。两组不良反应总发生率比较无差异(P>0.05)。结论:骨关节置换术患者给予右美托咪定复合曲马多超前镇痛,镇痛效果确切,可有效维持血流动力学稳定,且对机体认知功能影响较轻,不增加不良反应发生率,临床应用价值较高。     

Multimodal analgesia protocol for pain management after total knee arthroplasty: comparison of three different regional analgesic techniques

Objectives:To evaluate three different analgesic techniques, continuous epidural analgesia (EA), continuous intra-articular (IA) infusion analgesia and continuous femoral nerve block (FNB) in postoperative pain management, length of hospital stay (LOS), and time of patient mobilization after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:Seventy-two patients undergoing TKA were randomly allocated into three groups according to the analgesic technique used for postoperative pain management. Group EA patients received epidural analgesia (control group), group IA received intra-articular infusion and group FNB received femoral nerve block.Results:Upon analyzing the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores at rest, at passive and active movement, up to 3 days postoperatively, we observed no statistically significant differences at any time point among the three groups. Similarly, no association among these analgesic techniques (EA, IA, FNB) was revealed regarding LOS. However, significant differences emerged concerning the time of mobilization. Patients who received IA achieved earlier mobilization compared to FNB and EA.Conclusions:Both IA and FNB generate similar analgesic effect with EA for postoperative pain management after TKA. However, IA appears to be significantly more effective in early mobilization compared to EA and FNB. Finally, no clinically important differences could be detected regarding LOS among the techniques studied.     

Analgesic responses to intrathecal morphine in relation to CSF concentrations of morphine-3,beta-glucuronide and morphine-6,beta-glucuronide.

This study was performed to determine whether variations in analgesic responses to intrathecal morphine could be explained by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of morphine metabolites. Twenty-four CSF samples were collected at the beginning, middle and end of treatment periods in seven cancer patients with pain of malignant origin. CSF concentrations of morphine-3,beta-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6,beta-glucuronide (M6G) metabolites were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Analgesic responses to morphine were estimated concurrent with CSF collection using a visual analog scale representing percentages of pain relief. Effective analgesia was defined as > or = 75% pain relief. CSF concentration of M3G and M6G in the 24 samples were 722 +/- 116 ng/ml and 699 +/- 158 ng/ml, respectively. CSF samples were categorized into two groups: (1) those collected during effective analgesia (N=14), and (2) those collected during ineffective analgesia (N=10). M6G levels detected in group 1 samples (effective analgesia) were significantly greater than those found in group 2 samples (ineffective analgesia) (978 +/- 243 ng/ml vs 309 +/- 68 ng/ml, P<0.05). Intergroup differences in CSF M3G concentrations and M3G/M6G ratios were not significant. It is concluded that CSF M6G may be indicative of effectiveness of analgesia in cancer patients subjected to intrathecal morphine.