2004, Number 2
Effectiveness and safety of buprenorphine in spinal anesthesia and orthopedic surgery
Gómez-Márquez JJ, González-Guzmán D
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Language: Spanish
References: 6
Page: 81-85
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ABSTRACT
Background: Subarachnoid administration of opiates (mostly morphine) has been investigated both in animals and humans. We studied the effectiveness and safety of subarachnoid buprenorphine in the early postoperative period after orthopedic surgery. Material and methods: Patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery under subarachnoid blockade were divided into two groups: 1) Group BB (n = 20) was given 10 mg, 8% bupivacaine plus 0.075 mg buprenorphine; 2) Group B (n = 20) was given 10 mg, 8% bupivacaine as control. Once the anesthetic effect had worn away, effectiveness was assessed for 4 hours, using the Visual Analogue Scale, and safety (nausea, vomit, ventilatory depression and itching) was assessed for 24 hours. Results: Group BB achieved superior analgesia during the first two hours, but in the last three measurements, pain increased in the study group, and difference to the control group was no longer significant. In the study group,9 out of 20 patients (45%) required rescue analgesia, whereas in the control group, 19 out of 20 patients (95%) required it. Discussion: Analgesia achieved was shorter than previously reported (around 50% from the second hour on), while safety was similar. We consider that continuous epidural infusion is still the best option for buprenorphine.REFERENCES