[Influences of anesthetic method on post-cholecystectomy pain--a comparison between epidural and general anesthesia]

Abstract

This study was designed to compare the influence of epidural anesthesia with that of general anesthesia on postoperative pain state and management. We studied 16 patients who underwent elective laparotomy-cholecystectomy with epidural anesthesia without general anesthesia or with general anesthesia (nitrous oxide-isoflurane). Following bolus epidural injection with 3 micrograms.kg-1 of buprenorphine in 0.25% bupivacaine 4-7 ml at the end of surgery, all patients received continuous epidural buprenorphine administration at the rate of 12 micrograms.h-1 for 48 hours. Pain relief was assessed for 72 hours after surgery using visual analogue scale. Postoperative rest pain of the epidural group remained at a lower state of pain than that of the general anesthesia group not only for 48 hours (P < 0.005) but also until 72 hours (P < 0.005) after surgery. We concluded that the epidural anesthesia produces a greater postoperative pain relief than general anesthesia.