Addition of 0.1% bupivacaine to buprenorphine and droperidol in patient-controlled epidural analgesia improved postoperative pain scores on coughing after gynecological surgery

Abstract Study Objective To compare the analgesic efficacy of additional 0.1% bupivacaine to patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using buprenorphine and droperidol after gynecological surgery. Design Randomized, double-blinded study. Setting Operating theater and general ward at Jichi Medical School Hospital. Patients Thirty patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II scheduled for gynecological surgery. Interventions Patients received combined general and epidural anesthesia for surgery and epidural analgesia for postoperative analgesia. Patients were assigned to receive PCEA with or without 0.1% bupivacaine. Group 1 (n = 15) received buprenorphine 20 μ g and droperidol 0.1 mg diluted with saline, and group 2 (n = 15) received bupivacaine 2 mg, buprenorphine 20 μ g, and droperidol 0.1 mg diluted with saline (0.1% bupivacaine solution) in a bolus dose of the PCEA, respectively. No background epidural infusion was used. Measurements Visual analog pain scale (VAPS) scores at rest and on coughing, and cumulative frequency of self-administrated analgesic solution in PCEA were recorded at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. Main Results There were no significant differences noted between the groups in VAPS scores at rest or in cumulative volumes of PCEA solution in 24 or 48 hours postoperatively. Median VAPS scores on coughing in group 2 were significantly lower than those values in group 1 at 24 hours (36 vs 65mm, P P = .036) postoperatively. Conclusions Addition of 0.1% bupivacaine to PCEA using buprenorphine and droperidol provides better analgesia on coughing after gynecological surgery.