BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effect of vitamin C on post-laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP) in patients undergoing benign gynecological surgery during the first 72 h. METHODS: Sixty patients (aged 20 to 60 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification I or II) scheduled for elective laparoscopic hysterectomy were enrolled in this study. The vitamin C group (Group C) received 500 mg of vitamin C in 50 ml of isotonic saline infusion intravenously twice a day from the day of surgery to the third day after surgery. Patients in the saline group (Group S) received the same volume of isotonic saline over the same period. Post-operative analgesic consumption, pain scores of the incision site and the shoulder, and the incidence of PLSP were all evaluated at 1, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h following surgery. RESULTS: Cumulative post-operative fentanyl consumption was significantly less in Group C at 24 and 48 h after surgery (P = 0.002, P = 0.012, respectively). The pain intensity of PLSP was also significantly lower in Group C 24 h after the operation (P = 0.002). Additionally, the incidence of PLSP was significantly lower in Group C 24 and 48 h after the operation (P = 0.002, P = 0.035, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative intravenous administration of vitamin C (500 mg, twice a day) reduced post-operative analgesic consumption and significantly lowered the pain intensity and incidence of PLSP.
Administration, Intravenous ; Ascorbic Acid ; Classification ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Pain, Postoperative ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder ; Vitamins

Patients presenting for emergency abdominal procedures often have medical issues that cause both general anaesthesia and central neuraxial blockade to pose significant risks. Regional anaesthetic techniques are often used adjunctively for abdominal procedures under general anaesthesia, but there is limited published data on procedures done under peripheral nerve or plexus blocks. We herein report the case of a patient with recent pulmonary embolism and supraventricular tachycardia who required colostomy refashioning. Ultrasonography-guided regional anaesthesia was administered using a combination of ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric, rectus sheath and transversus abdominis plane blocks. This was supplemented with propofol and dexmedetomidine sedation as well as intermittent fentanyl and ketamine boluses to cover for visceral stimulation. We discuss the anatomical rationale for the choice of blocks and compare the anaesthetic conduct with similar cases that were previously reported.
Abdominal Wall ; surgery ; Aged ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; methods ; Anesthesia, General ; adverse effects ; Colostomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Conscious Sedation ; methods ; Dexmedetomidine ; administration & dosage ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Ketamine ; administration & dosage ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Nerve Block ; methods ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Period ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; Pulmonary Embolism ; complications ; Reoperation ; methods ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; complications ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little is known about the efficacy of low-dose transdermal fentanyl (TDF) patches in opioid-naive patients with moderate-to-severe cancer pain. METHODS: This study had an open-label, prospective design, and was conducted between April 2007 and February 2009 in seven tertiary cancer hospitals; 98 patients were enrolled. TDF was started using a low-dose formulation (12.5 microg/hr), and the dose was adjusted according to the clinical situation of individual patients. Pain intensity, the TDF doses used, and adverse events (AEs) were monitored over 4 weeks. Data were analyzed using the intent-to-treat and per-protocol principles. RESULTS: Of the 98 patients enrolled, 64 (65%) completed the study. The median pain intensity decreased from 6.0 to 3.0 (p < 0.001) at the follow-up visit. The efficacy of low-dose TDF on pain relief was consistent across groups separated according to gender (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.001), metastasis (p < 0.001), previous treatment (p < 0.001), and baseline pain intensity (p < 0.001). The decrease in pain intensity was significantly greater in the severe group compared with the moderate group (mean +/- SD, 5.10 +/- 2.48 vs. 2.48 +/- 1.56; p < 0.001). TDF dose (27.8 microg/hr vs. 24.8 microg/hr, p = 0.423) and the mean treatment time (7.5 days vs. 7.9 days, p = 0.740) required for pain control were not different between the two pain-intensity groups. Patients had AEs of only mild or moderate intensity; among these, nausea (38%) was the most common, followed by vomiting (22%) and somnolence (22%). CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose TDF was an effective treatment for patients with cancer pain of moderate-to-severe intensity. Further randomized trials assessing the efficacy of TDF for severe pain and/or optimal starting doses are warranted.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analgesics, Opioid/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Female ; Fentanyl/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Humans ; Intention to Treat Analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/*complications ; Pain/diagnosis/*drug therapy/etiology ; Pain Measurement ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Time Factors ; Transdermal Patch ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the characteristics of selective spinal anesthesia using 1 mg of bupivacaine combined with fentanyl or sufentanil in elderly patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients were randomized into two groups. The Fentanyl group received 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.2 mL+fentanyl 20 microg+5% dextrose 1.4 mL, and the Sufentanil group received 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.2 mL+sufentanil 5 microg+5% dextrose 1.7 mL intrathecally. Intraoperative and postoperative characteristics were evaluated. Patient satisfaction was assessed postoperatively. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients in each group completed the study. The median peak sensory block level was similar between two groups, but sensory regression time was longer in the Sufentanil group than the Fentanyl group (p=0.017). All patients were able to move themselves to the bed without any aid when they arrived at the admission room. Pain scores were lower in the Sufentanil group than the Fentanyl group at postoperative 6, 12, and 18 hours (p=0.001). Compared to the Fentanyl group, the Sufentanil group required less postoperative analgesia (p=0.023) and the time to the first analgesic request was longer (p=0.025). Twenty-four of 26 patients (92.3%) in each group showed "good" satisfaction level. CONCLUSION: Selective spinal anesthesia using 1 mg of bupivacaine with fentanyl or sufentanil provided appropriate sensory block level with spared motor function for transurethral resection of the prostate in elderly patients. Intrathecal sufentanil was superior to fentanyl in postoperative analgesic quality.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analgesics, Opioid/*administration & dosage ; Anesthesia, Spinal/*methods ; Anesthetics, Local/*administration & dosage ; Bupivacaine/*administration & dosage ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fentanyl/*administration & dosage ; Humans ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate/*surgery ; Sufentanil/*administration & dosage ; Time Factors ; *Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the characteristics of selective spinal anesthesia using 1 mg of bupivacaine combined with fentanyl or sufentanil in elderly patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six patients were randomized into two groups. The Fentanyl group received 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.2 mL+fentanyl 20 microg+5% dextrose 1.4 mL, and the Sufentanil group received 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.2 mL+sufentanil 5 microg+5% dextrose 1.7 mL intrathecally. Intraoperative and postoperative characteristics were evaluated. Patient satisfaction was assessed postoperatively. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients in each group completed the study. The median peak sensory block level was similar between two groups, but sensory regression time was longer in the Sufentanil group than the Fentanyl group (p=0.017). All patients were able to move themselves to the bed without any aid when they arrived at the admission room. Pain scores were lower in the Sufentanil group than the Fentanyl group at postoperative 6, 12, and 18 hours (p=0.001). Compared to the Fentanyl group, the Sufentanil group required less postoperative analgesia (p=0.023) and the time to the first analgesic request was longer (p=0.025). Twenty-four of 26 patients (92.3%) in each group showed "good" satisfaction level. CONCLUSION: Selective spinal anesthesia using 1 mg of bupivacaine with fentanyl or sufentanil provided appropriate sensory block level with spared motor function for transurethral resection of the prostate in elderly patients. Intrathecal sufentanil was superior to fentanyl in postoperative analgesic quality.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analgesics, Opioid/*administration & dosage ; Anesthesia, Spinal/*methods ; Anesthetics, Local/*administration & dosage ; Bupivacaine/*administration & dosage ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fentanyl/*administration & dosage ; Humans ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate/*surgery ; Sufentanil/*administration & dosage ; Time Factors ; *Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome

Aged ; Airway Obstruction ; chemically induced ; Analgesics, Opioid ; adverse effects ; Anesthesia, General ; adverse effects ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Rigidity ; chemically induced

PURPOSE: This analysis was done to investigate the optimal regimen for fentanyl-based intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) by finding a safe and effective background infusion rate and assessing the effect of adding adjuvant drugs to the PCA regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Background infusion rate of fentanyl, type of adjuvant analgesic and/or antiemetic that was added to the IV-PCA, and patients that required rescue analgesics and/or antiemetics were retrospectively reviewed in 1827 patients who underwent laparoscopic abdominal surgery at a single tertiary hospital. RESULTS: Upon multivariate analysis, lower background infusion rates, younger age, and IV-PCA without adjuvant analgesics were identified as independent risk factors of rescue analgesic administration. Higher background infusion rates, female gender, and IV-PCA without additional 5HT3 receptor blockers were identified as risk factors of rescue antiemetics administration. A background infusion rate of 0.38 microg/kg/hr [area under the curve (AUC) 0.638] or lower required rescue analgesics in general, whereas, addition of adjuvant analgesics decreased the rate to 0.37 microg/kg/hr (AUC 0.712) or lower. A background infusion rate of 0.36 microg/kg/hr (AUC 0.638) or higher was found to require rescue antiemetics in general, whereas, mixing antiemetics with IV-PCA increased the rate to 0.37 microg/kg/hr (AUC 0.651) or higher. CONCLUSION: Background infusion rates of fentanyl between 0.12 and 0.67 microg/kg/hr may safely be used without any serious side effects for IV-PCA. In order to approach the most reasonable background infusion rate for effective analgesia without increasing postoperative nausea and vomiting, adding an adjuvant analgesic and an antiemetic should always be considered.
Adult ; Aged ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled/*adverse effects/*methods ; Female ; Fentanyl/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects on anesthesia recovery between assisted-electroacupuncture fast tracking anesthesia and simple fast tracking anesthesia in patients with minim ally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL).

METHODSEighty cases of mPCNL were selected and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. Fentanyl (1-2 microg/kg), sevoflurane (8%) and rocuronium (0.5 mg/kg) were applied to perform anesthesia induction in both groups, and endotracheal inhalation of sevoflurane and intravenous pump injection of remifentanil were adopted to main anesthesia status during the operation. 20 min before anesthesia induction, bilateral Neiguan (PC 6), Neimadian, Hegu (LI 4), Yangxi (LI 5), Zhongji (CV 3), Qichong (ST 30), Zuwuli (LR 10) were selected and punctured in the treatment group, and elecctroacupuncture was given after arrival of qi until 30 min after the wake-up from anesthesia and withdrawal of endotracheal tube. The dosage for anesthesia maintenance, recovery time of awareness, extubation time, incidences of nausea, vomiting and chill and irritation of urethral catheters were observed and recorded.

RESULTS(1) The dosages of remifentanil and sevoflurane in the treatment group during the operation were obviously less than those in the control group [remifentanil: (5. 27 +/-1.23) micro g/kg h vs (7.35+/-1.70) micro g/kg . h; sevoflurane: (1.12+/-0.43) vol% vs (2.35+/-0.87) vol% , both P<0. 001]. (2) The recovery time of awareness and extubation time in the treatment group were significantly earlier than those in the control group [recovery time of awareness: (5.65 +/- 2.34) min vs (8. 87 +/- 6. 84) min, P<0. 01; extubation time : (7. 23+/-4. 35) min vs (10. 62+/-8. 16) min, P<0. 05]. (3) The incidences of nausea, vomiting and chill in the treatment group were significantly less than those in the control group (all P<0. 05). (4) The irritation of urethral catheters on urethra in the treatment group was significantly less than that in the control group (P<0. 001).

CONCLUSIONThe assisted-electroacupuncture anesthesia could reduce the dosage of remifentanil and sevoflurane in mPCNL fast tracking anesthesia in urinary surgery, reduce the incidences of nausea, vomiting, chill and irritation of urethral catheters during recovery stage, and prompt recovery of mPCNL patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Methyl Ethers ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Middle Aged ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; Piperidines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effective method of the prevention and treatment of procedural pain in dressing changes of burn wounds.

METHODSNinety patients of burn injury were randomized into 3 groups, 30 cases in each one. In the group A, fentanyl citrate injection was used at corresponding injury area, jiaogan (AH6a, sympathetic nerve), fei (CO14, lung), neifenmi (CO18, endocrine) on ear, 0.25 mL at each point. In the group B, fentanyl citrate injection was applied subcutaneously in the deltoid muscle, 1 mL. In the group C, 0.9% sodium chloride injection was applied subcutaneously in the deltoid muscle, 1 mL. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the analgesic effect before, during and 10 min after dressing change in the patients of the three groups separately.

RESULTSIt was not different in VAS score before dressing change among the three groups (P> 0.05). Compared with that before dressing change, the pain was not significant and VAS score was not different during and after dressing change in the patients of the group A (both P>0.05), but the score in the patients of the group B and C was different significantly (all P<0.05). The VAS score during and after dressing change in the group A was lower than that in the group B and C (all P<0.05), and the score in the group B was lower than that in the group C (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFentanyl injection of small dose at auricular points achieves definite analgesic effect on procedural pain in dressing changes of burn wounds, superior to subcutaneous injection of fentanyl.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Burns ; complications ; therapy ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Pain Measurement ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: We evaluated the incidence and risk factors of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients with fentanyl-based intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) and single antiemetic prophylaxis of 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5 HT3)-receptor antagonist after the general anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, incidence and risk factors for PONV were evaluated with fentanyl IV-PCA during postoperative 48 hours after various surgeries. RESULTS: Four hundred-forty patients (23%) of 1878 had showed PONV. PCA was discontinued temporarily in 268 patients (14%), mostly due to PONV (88% of 268 patients). In multivariate analysis, female, non-smoker, history of motion sickness or PONV, long duration of anesthesia (>180 min), use of desflurane and intraoperative remifentanil infusion were independent risk factors for PONV. If one, two, three, four, five, or six of these risk factors were present, the incidences of PONV were 18%, 19%, 22%, 31%, 42%, or 50%. Laparoscopic surgery and higher dose of fentanyl were not risk factors for PONV. CONCLUSION: Despite antiemetic prophylaxis with 5 HT3-receptor antagonist, 23% of patients with fentanyl-based IV-PCA after general anesthesia showed PONV. Long duration of anesthesia and use of desflurane were identified as risk factors, in addition to risk factors of Apfel's score (female, non-smoker, history of motion sickness or PONV). Also, intraoperative remifentanil infusion was risk factor independent of postoperative opioid use. As the incidence of PONV was up to 50% according to the number of risk factors, risk-adapted, multimodal or combination therapy should be applied.
Adult ; Aged ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled/*adverse effects ; Analgesics, Opioid/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Antiemetics/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Female ; Fentanyl/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Incidence ; Isoflurane/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperidines/*adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting/chemically induced/*epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors