Safety and effectiveness of butorphanol in epidural labor analgesia:A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Epidural analgesia is the most effective analgesic method during labor.Butorphanol administered epidurally has been shown to be a successful analgesic method during labor.However,no comprehensive study has examined the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.AIM To assess butorphanol's safety and efficacy for epidural labor analgesia.METHODS The PubMed,Cochrane Library,EMBASE,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,and Google Scholar databases will be searched from inception.Other types of literature,such as conference abstracts and references to pertinent reviews,will also be reviewed.We will include randomized controlled trials comparing butorphanol with other opioids combined with local anesthetics for epidural analgesia during labor.There will be no language restrictions.The primary outcomes will include the visual analog scale score for the first stage of labor,fetal effects,and Apgar score.Two independent reviewers will evaluate the full texts,extract data,and assess the risk of bias.Publication bias will be evaluated using Egger's or Begg's tests as well as visual analysis of a funnel plot,and heterogeneity will be evaluated using the Cochran Q test,P values,and I2 values.Meta-analysis,subgroup analysis,and sensitivity analysis will be performed using RevMan software version 5.4.This protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)Protocols statement,and the PRISMA statement will be used for the systematic review.RESULTS This study provides reliable information regarding the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.CONCLUSION To support clinical practice and development,this study provides evidence-based findings regarding the safety and efficacy of using butorphanol as an epidural analgesic during labor.

A systematic Review of the Safety and Effectiveness of Epidural Analgesia for Labor Analgesia

Objective To re-evaluate the systematic review of the safety and effectiveness of epidural analgesia(EA)for labor analgesia.Methods The Cochrane database,PubMed,EMBASE,EBSCO,Web of Science,ScienceDirect,China Biomedical Literature database,CNKI,Wanfang and VIP databases were searched,and the search time was limited to August 2020.Two researchers screened the literature and extracted data according to the inclusion criteria.AMSTAR was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies.Pain intensity and pain relief satisfaction were used as the main indicators for re-evaluation of the effectiveness.Midwifery rate,cesarean section rate,back pain,fever,nausea and vomiting,umbilical artery pH value,and newborn Apgar score were used as the main indicators to re-evaluate the safety.Results and Conclusion A total of 9 meta-analyses were included.The safety and effectiveness of EA and opioid intravenous analgesia,acupuncture stimulation,inhalation analgesia,no analgesia,and continuous delivery were evaluated separately.The included systematic reviews showed that EA could increase the rate of device-assisted delivery,causing maternal fever,and prolonging the first and second stages of labor.But the incidence of back pain,nausea,and vomiting was lower.Therefore,analgesia had a good effect with better satisfactory degree.Current evidence shows that EA is safe and effective for labor analgesia,but the quality of the reports of current studies is not high.

A Comparative Study on Safety and Efficacy of Caudal, Thoracic Epidural and Intra Venous Analgesia in Paediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Double Blind Randomised Trial

Introduction:Regional anaesthesia combined with general anaesthesia reduces stress response to surgery, duration of ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay and promotes early recovery. Studies on thoracic epidural, caudal analgesia along with general anaesthesia (GA) in paediatric cardiac surgery are limited hence we aimed to compare efficacy and safety of caudal, thoracic epidural and intravenous analgesia in paediatric cardiac surgery. Methodology: This study was conducted in the Department of Anaesthesiology in a tertiary care teaching hospital in southern India from February 2019 to December 2019. 90 children were randomised into group A, group B, group C. Children in group A received caudal analgesia along with GA. Group B children received thoracic epidural along with GA. Group C patients received intravenous analgesia along with GA. Rescue analgesia 1 mcg/kg fentanyl given in all 3 groups if pain score is more than 4. Primary outcome assessed was post-op pain scores. Secondary outcome assessed was duration of ventilation, duration of intensive care unit stay. Results: All patients were comparable in terms of age, sex, weight, mean RACHS score, baseline heart rate and blood pressure. Pain scores were significantly lower in thoracic epidural group compared to other two grou ps. Duration of ventilation was lower in thoracic epidural group (91.17± 43.85) minutes and caudal (199.6 ± 723.59) minutes compared to intravenous analgesia groups (436.37 ± 705.51) minutes. Duration of ICU stay was significantly low in thoracic epidural group (2.73 ± 0.69) days compared to caudal (3.7 ± 2.8) and intravenous analgesia groups (4.33 ± 0.920). We didn’t have any complications like hematoma, transient or permanent neurological sequelae in regional anesthesia groups. Conclusion: Regional anaesthesia along with general anaesthesia was more effective in pain relief than intravenous analgesia with general anaesthesia in paediatric cardiac surgery.

Comparative Study between General Anesthesia versus General Anesthesia Combined with Thoracic Epidural Analgesia on Cytokine Response in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Patients

Background and Objectives: The main benefits of laparoscopic surgery in comparison to open surgery involve the rapid discharge from recovery room, decreased postoperative hospital stays, reduced postoperative discomfort, easier getting back to work and faster return to ordinary daily life as well as cosmetic surgical wounds. The anesthesia type has an essential role in attenuation of the surgical stress and achievement of these advantages. We aimed to determine the outcome of giving general anesthesia in conjunction with thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) compared to general anesthesia alone on stress response to surgery and anesthesia by investigating cytokine reaction (interleukin 6 and 8 levels), hemodynamic changes (BP, HR, RR, SPO2), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores postoperatively in patients subjected for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: This study included 40 patients aged 20 - 60 years old with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA) I and II. They were planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Aswan University Hospital from April 2017 to March 2018. They were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A (n. 20) received general anesthesia only and Group B (n. 20) received general anesthesia in conjunction with thoracic epidural analgesia using fentanyl and bupivacaine in the epidural catheter. Chi-square was applied to differentiate categorical variables, whereas comparison between continuous variables was done by using t-test. Two-tailed p < 0.05 was estimated as statistically significant. Results: As regards IL-6 and IL-8 post-operative there is significant difference (p < 0.05) between two groups during 2nd and 4th hr and 24th hr postoperative, with significantly increased postoperative levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in comparison to their preoperative baseline values. The largest increase in IL6 & IL8 levels was in group A (GA group). VAS score showed significant lower values in TEA group in comparison to GA group. No significant difference between groups as regard intraoperative and postoperative hemodynamic changes. Conclusion: Regional techniques including TEA attenuate and decrease cytokine reaction secondary to surgery which decreases inflammatory process and improves patient outcome and reduces pain score postoperatively.

Effects of Ropivacaine-sufentanil Epidural Analgesia on Labor and Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes

[Objectives]This study aimed to investigate the effects of ropivacaine-sufentanil epidural analgesia on labor and maternal and neonatal outcomes.[Methods]A total of 180 primiparas in full-term pregnancy were selected.They were randomly divided into treatment group(n=90)and control group(n=90).The primiparas in the treatment group were injected epidurally with ropivacaine and sufentanil for analgesia,and the primiparas in the control group were subjected to vaginal delivery.The VAS scores at 5,10,30 and 60 min of analgesia were observed.The vaginal bleeding amount,total labor duration,neonatal Apgar score and vaginal delivery rate of the two groups were compared.[Results]Compared with the control group,the VAS score in the treatment group differed insignificantly after 5 min of analgesia(P>0.05),and decreased significantly after 10,30 and 60 min of analgesia(P<0.05).The vaginal bleeding amount of the treatment group was significantly smaller than that of the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the neonatal Apgar score between the two groups(P>0.05).In the treatment group,the vaginal delivery rate increased(P<0.05),the second stage of labor was prolonged(P<0.05),and the first and third stages of labor did not change significantly(P>0.05).[Conclusions]Epidural analgesia with ropivacaine and sufentanil has a good analgesic effect and good safety,and is worthy of clinical promotion.

Preprocedure ultrasound imaging combined with palpation technique in epidural labor analgesia

BACKGROUND For parturients with paroxysmal uterine contraction pain,rapid analgesia is needed.We used preprocedure ultrasound imaging combined with the palpation technique in epidural analgesia for labor,and evaluated the usefulness of this technique in epidural labor analgesia.AIM To evaluate the usefulness of preprocedure ultrasound imaging in epidural analgesia for labor.METHODS In this prospective randomized observational study,72 parturients were assigned to two groups(combined or palpation group).The target interspace of all parturients was first identified by the palpation technique.Then in the combined group,preprocedure ultrasound imaging was used before epidural puncture.In the palpation group,only the traditional anatomical landmarks technique(palpation technique)was performed.The primary outcome was total duration of the epidural procedure(for the ultrasound group,the duration of the preprocedure ultrasound imaging was included).The secondary outcomes were the number of skin punctures,the success rate at first needle pass,the number of needle passes,the depth from the skin to epidural space,and the complications of the procedure.RESULTS Total duration of the epidural procedure was similar between the two groups(406.5±92.15 s in the combined group and 380.03±128.2 s in the palpation group;P=0.318).A significant improvement was demonstrated for epidural puncture and catheterization in the combined group.The number of needle passes was 1.14 in the combined group and 1.72 in the palpation group(P=0.001).The number of skin puncture sites was 1.20 in the combined group and 1.25 in the palpation group(P=0.398).The success rate at first needle pass was 88.89%in the combined group and 66.67%in the palpation group(P=0.045).CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the total duration of epidural procedures with preprocedure ultrasound imaging combined with the palpation technique was not longer than the traditional anatomical landmarks technique,which were performed by six experienced anesthesiologists in parturients with normal weights undergoing labor analgesia.

Thoracic Epidural Morphine for Postoperative Analgesia after Hemiclamshell Incision in Castleman Disease

The hemiclamshell incision is a valid but infrequent surgical alternative for the resection of tumors from mediastinum. This point makes this approach impossible to be studied under a randomized controlled trial. The triple association of thoracotomy, sternotomy and cervicothomy makes the hemiclamshell approach a high intensity postoperative pain surgery. However, there is no published data on this topic, and the reviewed articles only mention the analgesic regimens as a secondary point. Indeed, no author defines the best epidural drugs mixture for the patients. Multimodal analgesic regimen based on regional anesthesia should be used. Based on the recent advances on spinal opioids, morphine could be a good choice as epidural coadjutant to local anesthetics for hemiclamshell incision.

COMBINATION OF ACUPUNCTURE ANALGESIA AND EPIDURAL BLOCK IN RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

One hundred patients undergoing renal transplantation were randomly divided into com-bined acupuncture-epidural anesthesia group (group A, points selected: Ciliao, Sanyinjiao, Taixi to-gether with Shenyu and para-incision or Zusanli; combined with small dose of epidural block) and epidural block group (group C), each 50 patients. The initial dose and total dose of local anesthetics were 5. 6 ±0. 3 ml and 13. 5±1.0ml in group A, and 14. 5±0. 4 ml and 25. 4 ±1. 2 ml in group C,respectively. There was very significant difference between the two groups (P< 0.001 ). During the operation the hemodynaminc changes were greater in group C. Ephedrine and atropine were used in 1 and 2 cases in group A, and in 9 and 5 cases in group C, respectively. The starting time of urination of the transplanted kidney was shorter in group A than in group C, being 209±25 s and 410±47 s, re-spectively (P<0.001 ). There was no significant difference in the indices of immmunologic function between the two groups. The anesthetic results in group A were evaluated according to the initial dose of epidural anesthetics. Those were excellent in 31 cases (62 % ) and good in 13 (26% ) with the ex-cellent-good rate 88 %.

Epidural analgesia followed by epidural hydroxyethyl starch prevented post-dural puncture headache:Twenty case reports and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND Accidental dural puncture(ADP)and subsequent post-dural puncture headache(PDPH)remain common complications of epidural procedures for obstetric anesthesia and analgesia.No clear consensus exists on the best way to prevent PDPH after ADP.CASE SUMMARY We report our findings in twenty parturients who underwent an incorporated strategy of epidural analgesia followed by epidural hydroxyethyl starch(HES)to prevent PDPH after ADP with a 16-gauge Tuohy needle during epidural procedures.ADP with a 16-gauge Tuohy needle occurred in nine parturients undergoing a cesarean section(CS)and in eleven parturients receiving labor analgesia.An epidural catheter was re-sited at the same or adjacent intervertebral space in all patients.After CS,the epidural catheter was used for postoperative pain relief over a 48-h period.After delivery in eleven cases,epidural infusion was maintained for 24 h.Thereafter,15 mL of 6%HES 130/0.4 was administered via the epidural catheter immediately prior to catheter removal.None of the parturients developed PDPH or neurologic deficits over a follow-up period of at least two months to up to one year postpartum.CONCLUSION An incorporated strategy of epidural analgesia followed by epidural hydroxyethyl starch may have great efficacy in preventing PDPH after ADP.

Comparison between 0.06% and 0.1% Levobupivacaine Combined with 2 μg/mL of Fentanyl for Epidural Labor Analgesia

Purpose: Levobupivacaine is thought to be a good alternative to bupivacaine for epidural labor analgesia because of its pharmacologic profile. However, the optimal concentration of levobupivacaine for labor analgesia has not been adequately studied. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the analgesic effect of levobupivacaine between 0.06% and 0.1% both combined with 2 μg/mL of fentanyl. Methods: Primiparous women (ASA I, II) who delivered their babies to our hospital using combined spinal epidural analgesia and patient-controlled epidural analgesia between August 1, 2011 and September 30, 2011 were included into this retrospective study. The analgesic solution for epidural administration was 0.06% levobupivacaine with 2 μg/mL of fentanyl between August 1 and 31, and 0.1% levobupivacaine with 2 μg/mL of fentanyl between September 1 and 30. Their anesthetic and obstetric charts were reviewed to compare obstetric outcome, anesthetic intervention, and patients’ satisfaction. Results: There were 46 women fulfilling the inclusion criteria: 23 women in 0.06% group, and 23 women in 0.1% group. The number of patients who needed more than 3 requests for one actual bolus was significantly higher in the 0.06% group (P 0.05). Conclusion: Our results revealed that 0.06% levobupivacaine combined with 2 μg/mL fentanyl does not provide sufficient analgesic effects for epidural labor analgesia. It seems that levobupivacaine has not been adequately studied after its withdrawal from the US market. Further studies should be conducted to determine the optimal concentration of levobupivacaine for epidural labor analgesia.

Comparative Study between Ultrasound-Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block versus Thoracic Epidural Analgesia for Post-Thoracotomy Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Clinical Trial

Objectives and Aim: Thoracotomies are widely recognized to cause acute pain which is associated with many complications. The target study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of SAPB compared to TEA for relieving severe thoracotomy pain. Patients and Methods: Forty patients scheduled for thoracotomy randomly allocated either to receive SAPB or thoracic epidural (TEA). Visual analogue pain score (VAS) at rest and coughing every 6 hrs. Postoperative, hemodynamic parameters (heart rate and MAP), pain rescue analgesic consumption in the first 24 hrs., complications, and duration of hospital stay recorded. Results: In our study, we found that the recently described SAPB, while maintaining stable blood pressure, provided excellent analgesia comparable to that offered by TEA for acute post-thoracotomy pain. Hypotension was more noteworthy in those who had epidurals than those with serratus anterior plane (SAP) catheters. Morphine rescue analgesia, as well as Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores during normal tidal breathing, were like in both groups. Conclusion: We recommend that the Serratus anterior plane block appears to be a safe and effective alternative for postoperative analgesia after thoracotomy.

Effects of labor analgesia on maternal and neonatal outcome by epidural low concentration of bupivacaine combined with anisodamine

Objective To observe the effects of labor analgesia on maternal and neonatal outcome by epidural application of 0.125% bupivacaine combined with anisodamine on the labor stage, and modes of delivery and neonatal Apgar’s score. Methods A total of 220 primiparaes with full-term pregnancy, monocyesis and fetal head presentation without any obstetrical or systematic complications were chosen and divided into analgesic group and control group (110 in each group). The mixture of bupivacaine and anisodamine was injected into the epidural space of the parturients in the analgesic group while those patients in the control group did not receive any analgesics. Results The analgesic effect was satisfactory (91.8%), and no side effects occurred in the second stage of labor. The instrument delivery rate was lower in the analgesic group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in neonatal Apgar’s score. Conclusion The method is feasible in clinic for labor pain relief without increasing the rate of dystocia and complications of delivery.

Clinical Study of Epidural Analgesia with Clonidine andSumatriptan in Posthysterectomy

A clinical study was conducted to compare the analgestic effect of clonidine with those of sumatriptan and their mixture and their effects on hemodynamics. 40 patients undergoing elective total hysterectomy were randomly divided into 4 groups in terms of the epidurally administered drugs with 10 patients in each group (group C1: clonidine 150 μg, group C2: clonidine 75 μg, group S: sumatriptan 6 mg and group S+C:clonidine 75 μg + sumatriptan 3 mg). MAP, HR,SpO2, VT VAS, VRS and ePDT were measured in the initial 4 h. The demographic data and the doses of intraoperative local anesthetics among the 4 groups were not staistically different. It was found that no significant difference in the pre- and postadministration values of HR, SpO2 and VT. A obvious reduction of MAP appeared in the groups of C1 and C2, but in the other groups the hemodynamical parameters were stable. The groups of C1, C2 and S+C showed significant increase in VAS and VRS, along with increase of ePDT when comapred with the pre-drug level. There was no obvious alteration in group S after the drug administration. It was concluded that (1) single use of sumatriptan is ineffective in the dose given in this study; (2) small dose (150 μg and 75μg) of clonidine has epidurally analgesic effects; (3) combined use of sumatriptan and clonidine is an acceptable way in epidural analgesia, in terms of its analgesic effect and hemodynamic changes.

Efficacy and safety of different doses of ropivacaine + sufentanil for epidural labor analgesia

Objective:To study the efficacy and safety of different doses of ropivacaine and sufentanil for epidural labor analgesia.Methods: The primiparae with single birth and cephalic presentation who underwent vaginal delivery in Chengde Maternal and Child Health Hospital between March 2015 and February 2018 were selected and randomly divided into the group A who received subarachnoid injection of sufentanil 4 μg, the group B who received injection of sufentanil 4 μg + ropivacaine 2 mg and the group C who received injection of sufentanil 4 μg+ ropivacaine 3 mg. During childbirth, serum was collected at the first, second and third stages of labor respectively to detect the secretion of pain mediators and oxidative stress mediators;after childbirth, the placenta was collected to determine the expression of stress molecules. Results: At first, second and third stages of labor, serum SP, DYN, NE, PGE2, TNF-α, COR, AT-II and MDA secretion of group B and group C were significantly lower than those of group A whereas SOD and GSH-Px secretion were significantly higher than those of group A, and serum SP, DYN, NE, PGE2, TNF-α, COR, AT-II and MDA secretion of group C were significantly lower than those of group B whereas SOD and GSH-Px secretion were significantly higher than those of group B;after childbirth, GRP78, CHOP, Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA expression in placenta of group B and group C were significantly lower than those of group A whereas Bcl-2 mRNA expression were significantly higher than that of group A, and GRP78, CHOP, Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA expression in placenta of group C were significantly lower than those of group B whereas Bcl-2 mRNA expression was significantly higher than that of group B.Conclusion: The analgesic effect of sufentanil 4 μg + ropivacaine 3 mg for epidural labor analgesia is the most significant.

The effect of postoperative epidural analgesia in women possessing severe gestational hypertension undergoing cesarean delivery

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical usefulness of postoperative epidural analgesia in patients possessing severe gestational hypertension after Cesarean delivery. Methods: We reviewed the obstetric records of 99 patients possessing severe gestational hypertension undergoing singleton Cesarean delivery at ≥ 22 weeks’ gestation. Thirty patients were received continuous epidural analgesia with 0.2% ropivacaine for pain relief after Cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia, 69 patients were not received epidural analgesia after Cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia. Results: During the preoperative period, there were no measurable differences in the diastolic blood pressure between the 2 groups (108 vs± 7 vs. 106 mmHg ± 10 mmHg, p = 0.29). The diastolic blood pressure at 2 and 4 hours after Cesarean section in the epidural analgesia group were significantly lower than those in the non-epidural group (2 hours after Cesarean section: 88 vs ± 13 vs. 95 mmHg ± 8 mmHg, p < 0.01;4 hours after Cesarean section: 92 vs ± 15 vs. 102 mmHg ± 9 mmHg, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The current results indicated that the postoperative epidural analgesia can inhibit the rise in diastolic blood pressure in patients possessing severe gestational hypertension after Cesarean delivery. This electronic document is a “live” template. The various components of your paper [title, text, heads, etc.] are already defined on the style sheet, as illustrated by the portions given in this document.

Myofascial Foot Pain Following Uneventful Epidural Analgesia for Labor and Delivery

Following an uneventful delivery under epidural analgesia, a 17 year old female patient was referred to the Pain Clinic because of numbness and pain of the left big toe for 2 and a half Months. An Orthopedic consultation had ruled out foot injury and concluded that the pain was radicular and secondary to nerve damage from the epidural analgesia. A Pain Clinic evaluation made the diagnosis of myofascial pain which was successfully treated with trigger pint block using normal saline.

Effect of epidural analgesia and intravenous analgesia on serum CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2 in patients with hysteromyoma

Objective:To investigate the effects of epidural analgesia and intravenous analgesia on serum Cancer 125 (antigen 125, CA125), vascular endothelial growth factor-C (Vascular endothelial growth factor-C, VEGF-C) and prostaglandin E2 (Prostaglandin VEGF-C) in patients with uterine fibroids.Methods:A total of 98 cases of uterine myoma treated in our hospital during September 2017 in September 2015 were selected and divided into 49 cases in the observation group and 49 cases in the control group according to the random table method. The two groups were all anaesthetized by subarachnoid block. The control group was controlled by self controlled intravenous analgesia, and the observation group was treated with epidural anesthesia. The operation time and the amount of intraoperative bleeding were compared between the two groups, and the changes of preoperative and postoperative 48 h VAS score, CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2 levels.Results: There was no statistical difference between the two groups of operation time and intraoperative bleeding. Two groups of postoperative 3 h, postoperative 24 h and 48 h VAS score decreased compared with preoperative;the observation group 3 h, 24 h and 48 h VAS scores were lower than those in the control group. Two groups of postoperative 48 h serum CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2 levels decreased;postoperative 48 h serum CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2 levels after operation in the observation group lower than in the control group.Conclusion: The effect of epidural analgesia on uterine myoma is obvious, and it can reduce the level of CA125, VEGF-C and PGE2, which is of great significance.

Effect of Bilateral Ultrasound-Guided Quadratus Lumborum Block versus Lumbar Epidural Block on Postoperative Analgesia following Major Lower Abdominal Cancer Surgery

Background: Poor postoperative pain control leads to longer postoperative care, longer hospital stay and decreased patient overall satisfaction. Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of bilateral ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block versus lumbar epidural block on the management of postoperative pain following major lower abdominal cancer surgery. Methods: The study was a double-blinded, and randomized study, conducted in South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Egypt. It included cancer patients scheduled for major lower abdominal cancer surgery in the period from 2019 to 2020. They were divided into two groups: Group Ι received pre-emptive ultrasound-guided Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) with 25 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine on each side of the abdominal wall before induction of General Anesthesia (GA), and Group II received pre-emptive lumbar epidural block with 15 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine before induction of GA. VAS score, and time of the first analgesic request and postoperative total analgesic consumption were evaluated. Results: Sixty patients were included in our study. VAS score at rest was comparable between both studied groups in the first 6 h. At 8 and 10 h, Group II had a significantly higher VAS score at rest (P < 0.001 and 0.026 respectively). Meanwhile, at 12 h, patients in Group I had a significantly higher VAS score (P = 0.026). Mean time of the first request for rescue analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group I (13.27 ± 2.38 hrs.) compared to Group II (10.20 ± 1.42 hrs.) (P < 0.001) respectively, mean total morphine consumption, over the first 24 hours postoperatively, was significantly lower in Group I (5.17 ± 1.32 mg) than in Group II (7.33 ± 1.45 mg) (P < 0.001). A larger number of patients in Group II had nausea at different time points postoperatively than in Group I (P < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed between both studied groups regarding the incidence of vomiting. Limitation: Small sample size and shorter period for postoperative follow-up. Conclusions: Management of postoperative pain following major lower abdominal cancer surgery with US-guided QLB was associated with the reduction in the total analgesic consumption and delayed the first request of analgesia as compared to lumbar epidural block technique.

Evaluation of the efficacy of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil and ropivacaine alone for epidural labor analgesia

Objective: To study the efficacy of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil and ropivacaine alone for epidural labor analgesia. Methods: Primiparae who received vaginal delivery under epidural analgesia in Ankang People's Hospital between March 2015 and February 2017 were selected and randomly divided into accepting the group A who received ropivacaine combined with sufentanil for epidural analgesia and the group B who received ropivacaine alone for epidural analgesia. During the first, the second and the third stage of labor, the serum was collected to determine the levels of pain mediators SP, 5-HT and PGE2 as well as stress hormones NE, E, F-C, AT-II and INS;after delivery, the placenta tissue was collected to determine the expression of stress molecules GRP78, CHOP, Nrf-2 and ARE. Results: Serum SP, 5-HT, PGE2, NE, E, F-C, AT-II and INS levels of group A during the first, the second and the third stage of labor were significantly lower than those of group B;GRP78, CHOP, Nrf-2 and ARE mRNA expression in placental tissue of group A after delivery were significantly lower than those of group B. Conclusion: ropivacaine combined with sufentanil for epidural labor analgesia is more effective than ropivacaine alone in reducing pain and inhibiting stress response.

Effect of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil epidural labor analgesia on pain neurotransmitters as well as cytokine production and stress hormone secretion

Objective: To discuss the effect of ropivacaine combined with sufentanil epidural labor analgesia on pain neurotransmitters as well as cytokine production and stress hormone secretion. Methods: A total of 218 cases of puerperae who received caesarean section in the hospital between January 2015 and January 2017 were divided into control group (n=109) and observation group (n=109) by random table method. Control group received postpartum ropivacaine epidural analgesia alone, and observation group received postpartum ropivacaine combined with sufentanil epidural analgesia. The differences in serum levels of pain neurotransmitters, inflammatory factors and stress hormones were compared between the two groups immediately after childbirth (T0), 6 h after delivery (T1), 12 h after delivery (T2) and 24 h after delivery (T3). Results: At T0, the differences in serum levels of pain neurotransmitters, inflammatory factors and stress hormones were not statistically significant between the two groups. At T1, T2 and T3, serum NPY, β-EP and SP levels of observation group were lower than those of control group at corresponding points in time;serum IL-1β, hs-CRP and IL-6 levels of observation group were lower than those of control group at corresponding points in time;serum Cor, AngⅠ, AngⅡ and NE levels of observation group were lower than those of control group at corresponding points in time. Conclusion:Ropivacaine combined with sufentanil epidural analgesia after caesarean section can effectively inhibit the pain neurotransmitter expression and relieve the systemic inflammatory stress response in puerperae.