Comparison of Epidural Analgesia Using 0.2% Bupivacaine and 0.2% Ropivacaine for the Management of Postoperative Pain in Major Orthopedic Surgery

Ropivacaine effect on hemostasis and pain level in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery: a triple-blinded, randomized, clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

This triple-blind, controlled clinical trial aimed to assess the effects of ropivacaine and lidocaine on hemodynamic factors, blood loss, opioid consumption, and postoperative pain in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.

METHODS

Thirty-two patients with Class III malocclusion scheduled for orthognathic surgery were included. The participants were randomly assigned to receive 0.5% ropivacaine or 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine for local anesthesia (n = 16). Hemodynamic parameters were recorded at various time intervals, which included heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, oxygen saturation (SpO2), intraoperative bleeding, opioid consumption, and postoperative pain intensity.

RESULTS

The participants' mean age was 23.67 ± 4.56 years, and 75% were female. The groups were comparable in most measured outcomes. HR was significantly higher in the ropivacaine group at 30 and 60 min post-injection (P < 0.05). SpO2 percentages were comparable between the groups, except at 15 min post-anesthesia, where the lidocaine group demonstrated a significantly higher SpO2 (P = 0.029). Blood pressure, postoperative opioid consumption, intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative pain levels showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Within the limitations of this study, both 0.5% ropivacaine and lidocaine with epinephrine demonstrated comparable effects on hemodynamic stability, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain levels, and opioid consumption in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. These findings suggest that ropivacaine may serve as a safe and effective alternative to lidocaine for local anesthesia in orthognathic procedures.

Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Plexus-Sciatic Nerve Blocks Versus Epidurals for Orthopaedic Surgeries: A Study to Compare the Competency of Novice Anaesthesiology Residents in a High-Volume Level 1 Trauma Centre

INTRODUCTION

The relative merits of peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) over central neuraxial anaesthesia and the advantages of the above two techniques over general anaesthesia for surgical interventions of the lower limb are well established. The competency of anaesthetic trainees in a high-volume level 1 trauma centre in administering dual ultrasound and nerve stimulator-guided lumbar plexus-sciatic nerve block (DUNLuPS) vs. epidural anaesthesia (EA) was compared by reporting the adequacy of anaesthesia with the two techniques, time taken for the performance of block, time of onset of sensory block (TOSB), and time of onset of motor block (TOMB).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective, randomized, study enrolled 92 patients aged 18-80 years with lower limb fractures admitted in trauma triage and scheduled for surgery. The patients were randomly allocated equally into the EA group and the DUNLuPS group. A total of 20 anaesthesia trainees in the third year of residency with clinical experience of more than 15 independent lumbar plexus-sciatic nerve blocks were included in the study. A volume of 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine was administered in the lumbar plexus (Shamrock technique) but the volume used for sciatic nerve (subgluteal approach) was varied so that the cumulative dose did not exceed 3 mg/kg. For each block, the onset of nerve blockade was assessed every five minutes, and the assessments continued for an additional 30 minutes after the nerve blocks were finished.

RESULTS

Clinical characteristics and adequacy of anaesthesia were comparable, i.e., 95.65% and 93.47% success in the EA (n = 46) and DUNLuPS (n = 46) groups, respectively. Performance time was significantly more in the DUNLuPS group but followed by significantly less TOSB and TOMB. The time for the first analgesic request was 351.63 ± 148.70 minutes in the DUNLuPS group and 147.60 ± 52.65 minutes in the EA group (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Both EA and DUNLuPS provide effective and comparable intra-operative anaesthesia for orthopaedic lower limb surgeries (OLLS) when administered by residents with more than two years of experience (third year of residency) in ultrasound-guided regional nerve blocks in a high-volume level 1 trauma centre. Statistically significant differences in the block performance characteristics had no clinical advantage as it was compensated by the faster onset time in the DUNLuPS group. Post-operative pain management was better in the DUNLuPS group, so the practice and conduct of anaesthesia for trauma patients should focus on the establishment of "block rooms" and timely training of residents in the former so that the advantages can be extended to the patient population.

Comparative analysis of low-dose bupivacaine and ropivacaine combined with spinal-epidural anesthesia in cesarean sections for pregnant women with coexisting mental illness

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the application effects of low-dose bupivacaine and ropivacaine combined with epidural anesthesia.

METHODS

The primary outcome measure was the anesthesia effect, assessed by the excellent anesthesia rate. Secondary outcomes included the occurrence of adverse reactions, blood pressure, and serum prolactin levels at different time points. The anesthesia effect, serum prolactin levels, occurrence of adverse reactions, and MAP at various time points [before anesthesia (T0), 5 min after anesthesia (T1), at the start of surgery (T2), at delivery of the fetus (T3), and at closure of the abdomen (T4)] were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

① Anesthesia effect: The excellent anesthesia rate was 71.88% in the control group and 93.94% in the observation group, with a significantly higher rate in the observation group than in the control group (p = 0.017). ② Serum prolactin levels: The serum prolactin levels in both groups increased significantly after surgery compared to before surgery (p < 0.001); however, there was no statistically significant difference in serum prolactin levels between the two groups before and after surgery (p = 0.651). ③ Occurrence of adverse reactions: The occurrence rate of adverse reactions was 28.13% in the control group and 9.09% in the observation group, with a significantly lower rate in the observation group than in the control group (p = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

In cesarean sections for pregnant women with coexisting mental illness, low-dose ropivacaine demonstrates significantly better anesthesia efficacy, blood pressure stability, and anesthesia safety compared to low-dose bupivacaine. Both low-dose bupivacaine and ropivacaine result in increased prolactin levels postpartum.

[The modern concept of anesthesiological provision of surgical interventions in geriatric patients with diseases of the hand and forearm]

The article analyzes literature data on the characteristics of local anesthetics used to perform regional anesthesia, and provides a detailed assessment of the drug "Articaine". The article presents the results of an open randomized study of the action of the anesthetics "Articaine-Binergia" 20 mg/ml and "Ropivocaine" used to perform conduction anesthesia in upper limb surgeries. The results of the study demonstrated a high degree of effectiveness of both drugs, but the safety indicators of the drug "Articaine-Binergia" 20 mg/ml significantly exceeded those of "Ropivocaine". The studies have established that the drug "Articaine-Binergia" 20 mg/ml is characterized by a short latent period, which allows for optimization of the operating room. At the same time, the peculiarity of "Ropivocaine" was the duration of action, which ensures the possibility of performing long surgical interventions, and maintaining the analgesic effect in the first hours after surgery. The results of the studies allowed us to recommend Articaine-Binergia 20 mg/ml as an effective local analgesic with a high degree of safety for widespread practical use in upper limb surgeries. The use of Ropivacaine for conduction anesthesia should be limited to surgical interventions that last longer than the duration of action of Articaine-Binergia 20 mg/ml, which is 2 hours 20 minutes. In addition, highly traumatic surgical interventions in patients with absolute contraindications to the use of painkillers are a limitation.

Thoracic Epidural Analgesia for Lumbosacral Spine Surgery: A Randomized, Case-Control Study

Background:

Traditional analgesics such as diclofenac and celecoxib have long been used in lumbosacral spine surgeries. Recently, preemptive single-shot caudal analgesia has been investigated by some workers with favorable results. We hypothesized that the thoracic route would not only allow preemptive but also postoperative analgesia through catheter insertion.

Aim:

We aimed at studying the feasibility and efficacy of thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) in lumbosacral spine surgeries.

Settings and Design:

This was a prospective, randomized, controlled study that comprised 60 American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) Physical Status I and II patients posted for lumbosacral spine surgeries.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty ASA I and II patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group T – TEA was given using 0.2% ropivacaine 10 mL preemptive and postoperatively. Group C patients were given analgesia with intramuscular diclofenac 75 mg. Hemodynamic parameters, postoperative Visual Analog Scale scores, and neurological complications were noted.

Statistical Analysis:

Student's independent t-test for comparing the continuous variables and Chi-square test for the categorical variables. Kruskal–Wallis test was used for postoperative pain data.

Results:

Duration and quality of analgesia were superior in Group T. There were more hemodynamic alterations in Group C but no neurological complication in any patient.

Conclusion:

TEA proves to be an effective analgesic technique for lumbosacral spine surgeries.

Influence of infiltration anaesthesia on perioperative outcomes following lumbar discectomy under surgical pleth index-guided general anaesthesia: A preliminary report from a randomised controlled prospective trial

PURPOSE

Severe postoperative pain (SPP) may occur after lumbar discectomy. To prevent SPP and reduce rescue opioid consumption, infiltration anaesthesia (IA) has been combined with general anaesthesia (GA). This study verified how GA combined with IA facilitated intra- and postoperative demand for opioids and affected the incidence of SPP in patients subjected to open lumbar discectomy.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Ninety-nine patients undergoing lumbar discectomy under GA with Surgical Pleth Index (SPI)-guided fentanyl (FNT) administration were randomly assigned to receive IA combined with either 0.2% bupivacaine (BPV) or 0.2% ropivacaine (RPV) with FNT 50 μg and compared with controls (BF, RF, and C groups, respectively).

RESULTS

Ninety-four patients were included in the final analysis. Adjusted according to SPI, total intraoperative FNT dosages did not differ between the study groups (p = 0.23). The proportion of patients who reported SPP was the highest in group C (41.9%) than in the RF (12.9%) and BF groups (31.3%) (p < 0.05). Mild pain was experienced by 67.7%, 53.1% and 32.3% of patients from the RF, BF and C groups, respectively (p < 0.01). Morphine requirement was the highest in the control group (7.1 ± 5.9 mg), followed by the RF (2.7 ± 5.3 mg) and BF groups (4 ± 4.9 mg) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

IA using RPV/FNT mixture significantly reduced SPP and postoperative demand for morphine in patients subjected to lumbar discectomy under GA.