OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of sufentanil administered intrathecally at different doses on the clinical effect of bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in gynecologic laparoscopy.

METHODSSixty patients with ectopic pregnancy undergoing elective laparoscopy (ASA class I-II) were randomized into 4 groups (groups A, B, C and D), and received spinal anesthesia with 15 mg bupivacaine and sufentanil at 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 microg, respectively. When the patients complained of discomforts, showed bodily movements, had heart rate over 100 beats/min, or showed blood pressure increment by 20%, additional doses of propofol were given. The onset time of sensory block, time to Bromage scale 3 motor block, time to the highest sensory block level, time of operation and recovery from anesthesia, and the total dosages of propofol were recorded along with the sedative score and the side effects.

RESULTSThe 4 groups were comparable for age, body weight, height and operation time (range 60-65 min) (P>0.05). Both the onset time of sensory block and the time of Bromage scale 3 motor block in groups C and D were significantly shorter than those in groups A and B (P<0.05). The time of the highest sensory block in group D was shorter than that in group A (P<0.05). Compared to the group A, the dose of propofol was reduced in groups B, C, and D by 7.1%, 28.1%, and 34.8%, respectively; propofol doses in groups C and D were significantly lower than those in groups A and B (P<0.05). Pruritus associated with the spinal anesthesia occurred in 4 (26.7%), 3 (20%), and 6 (40%) cases in groups B, C and D, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSIntrathecal sufentanil dose-dependently affect the effect of bupivacaine spinal anesthesia, and larger sufentanil dose produces better effects but more side effects. According to our results, 5.0 microg is the optimal dose for sufentanil.