The Analgesic Effects of Epidural Dexamethasone after Simple Lumbar Discectomy.
10.4097/kjae.2003.45.1.62
- Author:
Yong Cheol AHN
1
;
Kyung Joon LIM
;
Byung Sik YU
;
Chong Dal CHUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea. kjlim@chosun.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords:
dexamethasone;
epidural;
morphine;
simple lumbar discectomy
- MeSH:
Catheters;
Dexamethasone*;
Diskectomy*;
Fibrosis;
Humans;
Laminectomy;
Morphine;
Outcome Assessment (Health Care);
Pain, Postoperative;
Prospective Studies;
Steroids
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
2003;45(1):62-65
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Epidural steroids have been suggested to prevent postoperative epidural fibrosis after lumbar laminectomy. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the degree of postoperative pain in patients undergoing simple lumbar discectomy with and without epidural dexamethasone administration. METHODS: Thirty-six patients undergoing simple lumbar discectomy were randomly allocated to two groups to be given the following agents, just after the end of surgery via an epidural lumbar catheter previously inserted by the surgeon: normal saline 6 ml (group I), and a total of 6 ml normal saline with dexamethasone 5 mg (group II). The outcome measures included pain scores at 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24h and total morphine consumption over the first 24 postoperative hours. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 1 and 2 h between the two Groups, and the 24h total morphine consumption in Group II was significantly lower than in Group I. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural administration of dexamethasone decreased the degree of postoperative pain after simple lumbar discectomy.
