BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that sequential intrathecal injection of fentanyl and hyperbaric bupivacaine for cesarean section (CS) anesthesia provides a superior anesthetic effect than use of bupivacaine alone, and prolongs postoperative analgesia. Herein, we investigated whether rapid intrathecal injection of fentanyl followed by slow injection of hyperbaric bupivacaine affects the duration of postoperative analgesia, the effectiveness of anesthesia, and hemodynamic status. METHODS: Fifty-six parturients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II, aged 18–40 years, and scheduled to undergo elective CS were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 28 patients each. The normal sequential group received sequential intrathecal injections of fentanyl and hyperbaric bupivacaine at the same rate, each with a 5 ml syringe. The rapid sequential group received a rapid intrathecal injection of fentanyl with an insulin syringe, followed by a slow injection of hyperbaric bupivacaine with a 5 ml syringe. The onset of sensory block, the timing of the first rescue analgesia, the doses of rescue analgesics, the degree of postoperative pain, the onset and duration of motor block, the incidence and duration of hypotension, and spinal anesthesia-related complications were recorded. RESULTS: While both approaches had comparable spinal anesthesia-related complications, incidence and duration of hypotension, and doses of ephedrine, the rapid sequential group exhibited a more rapid onset of sensory block, a higher sensory level, and more prolonged postoperative analgesia. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid sequential injection of fentanyl and hyperbaric bupivacaine produced superior anesthesia and more prolonged postoperative analgesia than sequential injections of both at the same rate.
Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section ; Ephedrine ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Injections, Spinal ; Insulin ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pregnancy ; Syringes

BACKGROUND: Programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) techniques are a new area of interest for maintaining labor analgesia due to the potential to decrease motor block and improve labor analgesia. This study compares continuous epidural infusion (CEI) to 2 PIEB regimens for labor analgesia. METHODS: One hundred fifty patients undergoing scheduled induction of labor at term gestation having epidural labor analgesia were randomized to receive an epidural analgesia regimen of bupivacaine 0.125% with fentanyl 2 μg/ml at either PIEB 5 ml every 30 min (Group 5q30), PIEB 10 ml every 60 min (Group 10q60), or 10 ml/h continuous infusion (Group continuous epidural infusion [CEI]). The primary outcome is the pain scores throughout labor. Secondary outcomes include degree of motor block, dermatomal sensory levels, the number of physician-administered boluses, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: While the average pain scores throughout labor did not differ significantly between groups, fewer patients in group 10q60 received physician-administered boluses for breakthrough pain (34.9% in 10q60 vs. 61.0% in 5q30 and 61.9% in CEI, P = 0.022). Dermatomal sensory levels, degree of motor block, and patient satisfaction did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that high volume PIEB regimens for labor analgesia decrease breakthrough pain and physician-administered boluses.
Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Breakthrough Pain ; Bupivacaine ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Severe pain always develops after thoracotomy; intrapleural regional analgesia is used as a simple, safe technique to control it. This study was performed to evaluate whether a small dose of naloxone with local anesthetics prolongs sensory blockade. METHODS: A prospective, randomized double-blinded controlled study was conducted on 60 patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists statuses I and II, aged 18 to 60 years, scheduled for unilateral thoracotomy surgery. After surgery, patients were randomly divided into two groups: through the intrapleural catheter, group B received 30 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, while group N received 30 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine with 100 ng of naloxone. Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog pain scale (VAS). Time for the first request for rescue analgesia, total amount consumed, and incidence of postoperative complications were also recorded. RESULTS: The VAS score significantly decreased in group N, at 6 h and 8 h after operation (P < 0.001 for both). At 12 h after injection, the VAS score increased significantly in group N (P < 0.001). The time for the first request of rescue analgesia was significantly longer in group N compared to group B (P < 0.001). The total amount of morphine consumed was significantly lower in group N than in the bupivacaine group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of a small dose of naloxone to bupivacaine in intrapleural regional analgesia significantly prolonged pain relief after thoracotomy and delayed the first request for rescue analgesia, without significant adverse effects.
Analgesia ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine ; Catheters ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interpleural Analgesia ; Morphine ; Naloxone ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies ; Thoracotomy

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare the frequency of hypotension and immediate hemodynamic changes induced by unilateral and bilateral spinal anesthesia in hypertensive elderly patients. METHODS: Forty hypertensive elderly patients undergoing lower leg surgery were randomly allocated into unilateral (group US) and bilateral spinal anesthesia (group BS). After intrathecal bupivacaine injection, patients in group US were kept in the lateral position for 10 min while patients in group BS were immediately placed in the supine position. Hemodynamic parameters were measured for 20 min by non-invasive cardiac output monitor based on bioreactance. RESULTS: In both groups, mean arterial pressure was significantly decreased after spinal anesthesia compared to the baseline value. However, frequency of hypotension requiring vasoactive drug was significantly lower in group US (5%) than in group BS (35%) (P = 0.044). The dermatom of sensory block on the operated limb was significantly lower in group US [T10 (10–10)] than in group BS [T8 (7.5–10)] (P = 0.013). In comparison within the group, changes of cardiac index were similar as the baseline value in both groups, although total peripheral resistance index was constant in group US but significantly decreased in group BS. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral spinal anesthesia effectively reduced the frequency of hypotension requiring vasoactive drug and affected hemodynamic performance less than bilateral spinal anesthesia.
Aged ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Arterial Pressure ; Bupivacaine ; Cardiac Output ; Extremities ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Leg ; Supine Position ; Vascular Resistance

BACKGROUND: Pain is an unpleasant sensation ranging from mild localized discomfort to agony and is one of the most commonly experienced symptoms in oral surgery. Usually, local anesthetic agents and analgesics are used for pain control in oral surgical procedures. Local anesthetic agents including lignocaine and bupivacaine are routinely used in varying concentrations. The present study was designed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of 0.25% and 0.5% bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in infraorbital nerve block. METHODS: Forty-one patients undergoing bilateral maxillary orthodontic extraction received 0.5% bupivacaine (n = 41) on one side and 0.25% bupivacaine (n = 41) on the other side at an interval of 7 d. The parameters evaluated for both the bupivacaine concentrations were onset of action, pain during procedure (visual analog scale score [VAS]), and duration of action. The results were noted, tabulated, and analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: The onset of action of 0.5% bupivacaine was quicker than that of 0.25% bupivacaine, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.306). No significant difference was found between the solutions for VAS scores (P = 0.221) scores and duration of action (P = 0.662). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between 0.25% bupivacaine and 0.5% bupivacaine in terms of onset of action, pain during procedure, and duration of action. The use of 0.25% bupivacaine is recommended.
Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia, Local ; Anesthetics ; Bupivacaine ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Nerve Block ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; Pain, Postoperative ; Sensation ; Surgery, Oral ; Tooth Extraction

BACKGROUND: People with the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), a group of heritable disorders of connective tissue, often report experiencing dental procedure pain despite local anesthetic (LA) use. Clinicians have been uncertain how to interpret this apparent LA resistance, as comparison of EDS and non-EDS patient experience is limited to anecdotal evidence and small case series. The primary goal of this hypothesis-generating study was to investigate the recalled adequacy of pain prevention with LA administered during dental procedures in a large cohort of people with and without EDS. A secondary exploratory aim asked people with EDS to recall comparative LA experiences. METHODS: We administered an online survey through various social media platforms to people with EDS and their friends without EDS, asking about past dental procedures, LA exposures, and the adequacy of procedure pain prevention. Among EDS respondents who both received LA and recalled the specific LA used, we compared agent-specific pain prevention for lidocaine, procaine, bupivacaine, mepivacaine, and articaine. RESULTS: Among the 980 EDS respondents who had undergone a dental procedure LA, 88% (n = 860) recalled inadequate pain prevention. Among 249 non EDS respondents only 33% (n = 83) recalled inadequate pain prevention (P < 0.001 compared to EDS respondents). The agent with the highest EDS-respondent reported success rate was articaine (30%), followed by bupivacaine (25%), and mepivacaine (22%). CONCLUSIONS: EDS survey respondents reported nearly three times the rate of LA non-response compared to non-EDS respondents, suggesting that LAs were less effective in preventing their pain associated with routine office dental procedures.
Anesthesia, Local ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine ; Carticaine ; Cohort Studies ; Connective Tissue ; Dental Care ; Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome ; Friends ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Mepivacaine ; Procaine ; Social Media ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Magnesium is one of the effective, safe local anesthetic adjuvants that can exert an analgesic effect in conditions presenting acute and chronic post-sternotomy pain. We studied the efficacy of continuous infusion of presternal magnesium sulfate with bupivacaine for pain relief following cardiac surgery. METHODS: Ninety adult patients undergoing valve replacement cardiac surgery randomly allocated into three groups. In all patients; a presternal catheter was placed for continuous infusion of either 0.125% bupivacaine and 5% magnesium sulfate (3 ml/h for 48 hours) in group 1, or 0.125% bupivacaine only in the same rate in group 2, versus conventional intravenous paracetamol and ketorolac in group 3. Rescue analgesia was iv 25 µg fentanyl. Postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and fentanyl consumption during the early two postoperative days were assessed. All patients were followed up over two months for occurrence of chronic post-sternotomy pain. RESULTS: VAS values showed high significant differences during the first 48 hours with the least pain scale in group 1 and significantly least fentanyl consumption (30.8 ± 7 µg in group 1 vs. 69 ± 18 µg in group 2, and 162 ± 3 in group 3 respectively). The incidence of chronic pain has not differed between the three groups although it was more pronounced in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous presternal bupivacaine and magnesium infusion resulted in better postoperative analgesia than both presternal bupivacaine alone or conventional analgesic groups.
Acetaminophen ; Adjuvants, Anesthesia ; Adult ; Analgesia ; Bupivacaine ; Catheters ; Chronic Pain ; Double-Blind Method ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketorolac ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Magnesium ; Thoracic Surgery ; Visual Analog Scale

BACKGROUND: Immune responses appear to be affected by anesthetics and analgesics. We investigated the effects of caudal tramadol on the postoperative immune response and pain management in pediatric patients. METHODS: Sixty ASA-I pediatric patients aged 3–10 years undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Patients were randomly assigned either to a caudal bupivacaine (0.25%) group (group B), or a group that received caudal tramadol (1 mg/kg) added to the bupivacaine (0.25%) (group T). Both were diluted in a 0.9% NaCl solution to a total volume of 1ml/kg. The systemic immune response was measured by collecting blood samples preoperatively, at the end of anesthesia, and at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively, and studied for interleukin IL-6, C-reactive proteins (CRP) cortisol levels, and leucocytes with its differential count. Postoperative pain was assessed along with sedation scales. RESULTS: Postoperative production of IL-6 was significantly higher in group B at the end of anesthesia, than at the 24th hour, and at the 72nd hour in group B and group T, respectively. The immune response showed leukocytosis with increased percentages of neutrophil and monocytes, and a decreased lymphocyte response rate within both groups with no significant differences between the groups. Cortisol and CRP were significantly higher in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Adding tramadol to a caudal bupivacaine block can attenuate the pro-inflammatory cytokine response, Cortisol, and CRP in children undergoing lower abdominal surgery.
Abdomen ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Caudal ; Anesthetics ; Bupivacaine ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; Leukocytosis ; Lymphocytes ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Pain Management ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pediatrics ; Tramadol ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: To compare the effects of adding two different doses of dexamethasone on the duration and quality of the fascia iliaca block in patients undergoing proximal femoral fracture surgery. METHODS: A total of 60 patients (age 18–70 years) undergoing proximal femoral nailing surgery under spinal anesthesia were given fascia iliaca block after random assignment to one of the two groups: Group H received an injection of levobupivacaine (0.5%) 28 ml with 2 ml (8 mg) dexamethasone, and Group L received an injection of levobupivacaine (0.5%) 28 ml with dexamethasone 1 ml (4 mg) with 1 ml normal saline. Assessment of the duration of analgesia and the total tramadol requirement over 48 hours were noted after a successful block. RESULTS: The duration of analgesia was found to be significantly longer in Group H (17.02 ± 0.45 h) than in the Group L patients (14.29 ± 0.45 h) with a p-value of 0.000. Postoperative analgesic requirement (amount of tramadol in mg) was significantly higher in Group L (Q2: 200.0; IQR: 100.0, 200.0) as compared to Group H (Q2: 100.0; IQR: 100.0, 200.0) with a p-value of 0.034. No patient showed any sign of neurotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone, in a dose of 8 mg, is superior to 4 mg when used as an adjuvant with levobupivacaine in the FIB. Though both prolonged analgesia and were effective in reducing oral/intravenous analgesics, 8 mg dexamethasone can be recommended as a more efficacious adjuvant to local anesthetics in the FIB.
Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Anesthetics, Local ; Bupivacaine ; Dexamethasone ; Fascia ; Femoral Fractures ; Humans ; Pain Management ; Prospective Studies ; Tramadol

BACKGROUND: Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) provides good postoperative analgesia, but its effect on anesthetic consumption is unknown. This study evaluated the effects of BSCPB on sevoflurane consumption during thyroid surgery. METHODS: Fifty patients were randomly allocated into groups A and B of 25 each in this prospective double-blind study. Group A received BSCPB with 20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine, whereas group B received 20 ml saline immediately before entropy-guided general anesthesia. Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, end-tidal sevoflurane concentration, minimum alveolar concentration, and sevoflurane consumption were recorded. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analog scale, and the time of the first request for analgesia was noted. All side effects were recorded. RESULTS: Demographics were comparable. Mean sevoflurane consumption [for 30 min: group A = 7.2 (1.1) ml, group B = 8.8 (2.0) ml, P = 0.001; for 60 min: group A = 13.5 (1.7) ml, group B = 16.5 (3.9) ml, P = 0.002] and mean end-tidal sevoflurane concentration [for 30 min: group A = 1.2% (0.2%), group B = 1.4% (0.2%), P = 0.008; for 60 min: group A = 1.2% (0.1%), group B = 1.4% (0.2%), P = 0.010] were significantly lower in group A. Patients in group A had a longer duration of analgesia [361.6 (79.5) min vs. 151.0 (60.2) min, P < 0.001] compared to those in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Preinduction BSCPB during thyroid surgery significantly reduced sevoflurane consumption and increased the duration of postoperative analgesia.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Bupivacaine ; Cervical Plexus Block* ; Cervical Plexus* ; Demography ; Double-Blind Method ; Entropy ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Nerve Block ; Pain, Postoperative ; Prospective Studies* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroidectomy ; Visual Analog Scale