TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of immediately initiating an epidural infusion in the combined spinal and epidural technique in nulliparous parturients
AU - Gaiser, Robert R.
AU - Lewin, Stacy B.
AU - Cheek, Theodore G.
AU - Gutsche, Brett B.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Background and Objectives: Intrathecal fentanyl with bupivacaine provides rapid labor analgesia of limited duration. We investigated the effect of initiating an epidural infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 μg/mL and epinephrine 1:400,000 (REF) on the duration of analgesia and incidence of side effects after intrathecal injection in the combined spinal and epidural technique. Methods: Thirty-four nulliparous parturients with a cervical dilation of 3 to 5 cm were randomized to receive epidural saline or REF at 10 mL following the intrathecal injection of fentanyl 25 μg and bupivacaine 2.5 mg. Degree of analgesia, severity of pruritus, motor block, blood pressure, and sensory level to coolness were assessed until the patient requested additional analgesia. Results: Analgesia was significantly longer in the REF group, 158.4 ± 59.6 minutes versus 103.8 ± 26.2 minutes. The decrease in blood pressure compared with the blood pressure at intrathecal injection was greater for the REF group at all times, but achieved statistical significance at 60 minutes. There was no difference in ephedrine use, pruritus, or motor block between groups. There was no difference in sensory level to coolness at 90 minutes after intrathecal injection between groups. Conclusions: Initiating an infusion of REF prolongs the duration of analgesia, but also results in a greater decrease in blood pressure. Despite this effect on blood pressure, there was no difference in ephedrine use.
AB - Background and Objectives: Intrathecal fentanyl with bupivacaine provides rapid labor analgesia of limited duration. We investigated the effect of initiating an epidural infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine with fentanyl 2 μg/mL and epinephrine 1:400,000 (REF) on the duration of analgesia and incidence of side effects after intrathecal injection in the combined spinal and epidural technique. Methods: Thirty-four nulliparous parturients with a cervical dilation of 3 to 5 cm were randomized to receive epidural saline or REF at 10 mL following the intrathecal injection of fentanyl 25 μg and bupivacaine 2.5 mg. Degree of analgesia, severity of pruritus, motor block, blood pressure, and sensory level to coolness were assessed until the patient requested additional analgesia. Results: Analgesia was significantly longer in the REF group, 158.4 ± 59.6 minutes versus 103.8 ± 26.2 minutes. The decrease in blood pressure compared with the blood pressure at intrathecal injection was greater for the REF group at all times, but achieved statistical significance at 60 minutes. There was no difference in ephedrine use, pruritus, or motor block between groups. There was no difference in sensory level to coolness at 90 minutes after intrathecal injection between groups. Conclusions: Initiating an infusion of REF prolongs the duration of analgesia, but also results in a greater decrease in blood pressure. Despite this effect on blood pressure, there was no difference in ephedrine use.
KW - Combined spinal and epidural technique
KW - Epidural ropivacaine
KW - Intrathecal bupivacaine with fentonyl
KW - Labor analgesia
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U2 - 10.1097/00115550-200005000-00003
DO - 10.1097/00115550-200005000-00003
M3 - Article
C2 - 10834774
AN - SCOPUS:0034034446
SN - 1098-7339
VL - 25
SP - 223
EP - 227
JO - Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
JF - Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
IS - 3
ER -