Epidural anesthesia and postoperative analgesia with ropivacaine and fentanyl in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized, controlled study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our aim was to assess the efficacy of thoracic epidural anesthesia (EA) followed by postoperative epidural infusion (EI) and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with ropivacaine/fentanyl in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a prospective study, 93 patients were scheduled for OPCAB under propofol/fentanyl anesthesia and randomized to three postoperative analgesia regimens aiming at a visual analog scale (VAS) score < 30 mm at rest. The control group (n = 31) received intravenous fentanyl 10 μg/ml postoperatively 3-8 mL/h. After placement of an epidural catheter at the level of Th₂-Th₄before OPCAB, a thoracic EI group (n = 31) received EA intraoperatively with ropivacaine 0.75% 1 mg/kg and fentanyl 1 μg/kg followed by continuous EI of ropivacaine 0.2% 3-8 mL/h and fentanyl 2 μg/mL postoperatively. The PCEA group (n = 31), in addition to EA and EI, received PCEA (ropivacaine/fentanyl bolus 1 mL, lock-out interval 12 min) postoperatively. Hemodynamics and blood gases were measured throughout 24 h after OPCAB.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During OPCAB, EA decreased arterial pressure transiently, counteracted changes in global ejection fraction and accumulation of extravascular lung water, and reduced the consumption of propofol by 15%, fentanyl by 50% and nitroglycerin by a 7-fold, but increased the requirements in colloids and vasopressors by 2- and 3-fold, respectively (<it>P </it>< 0.05). After OPCAB, PCEA increased PaO₂/FiO₂at 18 h and decreased the duration of mechanical ventilation by 32% compared with the control group (<it>P </it>< 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In OPCAB, EA with ropivacaine/fentanyl decreases arterial pressure transiently, optimizes myocardial performance and influences the perioperative fluid and vasoactive therapy. Postoperative EI combined with PCEA improves lung function and reduces time to extubation.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p><a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01384175">NCT01384175</a></p

The effect of combined preinduction thoracic epidural anaesthesia and glucocorticoid administration in perioperative interleukin-10 levels and hyperglycemia. A randomized controlled trial

PubMed ID: 18212693Aim. Anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) play a key role in the anti-inflammatory cascade after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Even moderate hyperglycemia can increase mortality/morbidity, stroke, and myocardial infarction after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The purpose of our study was to investigate whether preinduction thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEX) and preinduction glucocorticoid have an effect on perioperative anti-inflammatory and perioperative hyperglycemia in patients undergoing CABG with CPB. Methods. Sixty low-risk patients (n=60) undergoing elective CABG were randomly allocated into 4 groups: Group corticosteroid (Group S) (n=15) received 6-methyl-prednisolone 15 mg/kg IV 60 min before induction; Group TEA+corticosteroid (Group TEA+S) (n=15) received 20 mg bupivacaine in bolus 60 min before induction followed by 20 mg/h bupivacaine infusion intraoperatively and postoperatively via epidural catheter. Group TEA (n=15) received 20 mg bupivacaine in bolus 60 min before induction followed by 20 mg/h bupivacaine infusion intraoperatively and postoperatively via epidural catheter. Group control (Group C) (n= 15) received neither preinduction TEA nor a preinduction steroid. Blood samples were sequentially taken before surgery (baseline), before CPB, 1 h after CPB, in the intensive care unit (ICU) and 24 h after surgery from an indwelling radial arterial catheter. Results. Before CPB, circulating IL-10 levels were higher in groups TEA+S and S than in group C (P<0.05). At 1 h after CPB, IL-10 levels were higher in groups TEA+S and S than in group C (P<0.001). Before CPB and at 1 h after CPB, IL-10 levels were lower in group TEA than in group C (P<0.05). Before CPB, glucose levels were higher in group S than in groups TEA, C or TEA + S (P<0.001; P<0.05). There was no significant difference in glucose levels between groups TEA, TEA+S and C. At 1 hour after CPB, glucose levels were significantly lower in groups TEA and TEA+S than in groups S and C (P<0.001; P<0.05). At 1 hour after CPB, glucose levels were significantly higher in group S than in group C (P<0.05). At ICU, glucose levels were significantly lower in group TEA than in groups S, C and TEA+S (P<0.001; P<0.05). Conclusion. The study results show that preinduction TEA improves glucose homeostasis during the perioperative 24-h period in CABG surgery. In addition, we found that while preinduction TEA reduced blood IL-10 levels, preinduction glucocorticoid and TEA+S increased the circulating levels of IL-10