Objective To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of thoracic epidural analesis (TEA) for postoperative complications after cardiac surgery. Methods Such databases as PubMed, Science Citation Index, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI and CBM were electronically searched from inception to October 2012 for collecting the randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness and safety of thoracic epidural analgesisa for postoperative complications after cardiac surgery. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 software. Results Totally 14 studies were eligible, involving 1 942 patients. The results of meta-analysis showed that, TEA combined with general anesthesia (GA) was superior to GA alone in reducing the incidences of myocardial ischemia/infarction (RR=0.63, 95%CI 0.41 to 0.96, P=0.03), respiratory complications (RR=0.55, 95%CI 0.40 to 0.75, P=0.000 1), supraventricular arrhythmias (RR=0.64, 95%CI 0.47 to 0.88, P=0.005), and duration of mechanical ventilation (MD= –2.15, 95%CI –3.72 to –0.58, P=0.007), with significant differences. Conclusions Current evidence shows that, TEA after surgery is effective in reducing the incidences of myocardial ischemia/infarction, respiratory complications, supraventricular arrhythmias, and duration of mechanical ventilation. There is the lack of data on the adverse events of TEA (mainly referring to epidural hematoma). Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, patients’ conditions should be fully considered before applying TEA in clinical practice.
Objective To compare the effect of intravenous and epidural analgesia on postoperative complications after abdominal and thoracic surgery. Methods A literature search was conducted by using computerized database on PubMed, EBSCO, Springer, Ovid, and CNKI from 1985 to Jan 2009. Further searches for articles were conducted by checking all references describing postoperative complications with intravenous and epidural anesthesia after abdominal and thoracic surgery. All included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed and data were extracted by the standard of Cochrane systematic review. The homogeneous studies were pooled using RevMan 4.2.10 software. Results Thirteen RCTs involving 3 055 patients met the inclusion criteria. The results of meta-analyses showed that, a) pulmonary complications and lung function: patient-controlled epidural analgesia can significantly decrease the incidence of pneumonia (RR=0.66, 95%CI 0.53 to 0.83) and improve the FEV1 (WMD=0.17, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.29) and FVC (WMD=0.21, 95%CI 0.1 to 0.32) of lung function after abdominal and thoracic surgery, but no differences in decreasing postoperative respiratory failure (RR=0.77, 95%CI 0.58 to 1.02) and prolonged ventilation (RR=0.75, 95%CI 0.51 to 1.13) compared with intravenous analgesia; b) cardiovascular event: epidural analgesia could significantly decrease the incidence of myocardial infarction (RR=0.58, 95%CI 0.35 to 0.95) and arrhythmia (RR=0.64, 95%CI 0.47 to 0.88) than the control group, but could not better reduce the risk of heart failure (RR=0.79, 95%CI 0.47 to 1.34) and hypotension (RR=1.21, 95%CI 0.63 to 2.29); and c) Other complications: epidural and intravenous analgesia had no difference in decreasing the risk of postoperative renal insufficient (RR=0.78, 95%CI 0.53 to 1.14), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (RR=0.78, 95%CI 0.49 to 1.23), infection (RR=0.89, 95%CI 0.70 to 1.12) and nausea (RR=1.03, 95%CI 0.38 to 2.81). Conclusions Epidural analgesia can obviously decrease the risk of pneumonia, myocardial infarction and severe arrhythmia, and can improve the lung function after abdominal or thoracic surgery.
Objective To systematically evaluate the effect of epidural analgesia on prognosis after intestinal surgery. Methods Such databases as PubMed, EBSCO, Springer, Ovid and CNKI were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the effects of epidural analgesia on prognosis after intestinal surgery published from 1985 to 2010. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was assessed and the data was extracted according to the Cochrane Handbook, and then the meta-analyses were conducted by using RevMan 5.0 software. Results Ten RCTs involving 506 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that compared with the patient controlled analgesia (PCA), the patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) significantly reduced the waiting time for having first flatus, first defecation, and the length of hospital stay (MD= –1.07, 95%CI –1.63 to –0.50; MD= –0.63, 95%CI –1.19 to –0.08; MD= –1.36, 95%CI –2.28 to –0.44; respectively), lowered the frequency of vomiting on the first and second day after operation (OR=0.33, 95%CI 0.13 to 0.82; OR=0.3, 95%CI 0.13 to 0.84; respectively), and obviously declined the visual analog scale (VAS) scores of rest pain on the first, second and third day after operation (MD= –26.60, 95%CI –33.06 to –20.15; MD= –25.98, 95%CI –30.98 to –20.97; MD= –15.59, 95%CI –27.29 to –3.88; respectively), and the VAS scores of motion pain on the first, second and third day after operation (MD= –26.00, 95%CI –36.00 to –16.00; MD= –27.89, 95%CI –35.70 to –20.08; MD= –11.79, 95%CI –21.28 to –2.30; respectively). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of urinary tract infection, urinary retention, anastomotic leak and ileus. Conclusion PCEA significantly reduces the waiting time for having first flatus and first feces, the length of hospital stay, the VAS scores of pain, and the incidence of postoperative vomiting.
【摘要】 目的 观察不同剂量的舒芬太尼用于剖宫产术后硬膜外自控镇痛的效果比较。 方法 将2009年4-11月60例硬膜外麻醉下行剖宫产手术术后的患者随机分为三组，术后镇痛液A组采用0.125%罗哌卡因复合0.3 μg/mL舒芬太尼；B组为0.125%罗哌卡因复合0.4 μg/mL舒芬太尼；C组0.125%罗哌卡因复合0.5 μg/mL舒芬太尼，观察三组患者的术后镇痛效果（视觉模拟法评分，即VAS评分）及不良反应。 结果 A组VAS评分高于B组和C组，B组VAS评分高于C组（Plt;0.05）。三组患者术后恶心呕吐、运动阻滞、嗜睡及肠蠕动抑制等并发症无统计学差异（Pgt;0.05）。 结论 0.125%罗哌卡因复合0.5 μg/mL舒芬太尼以4 mL/h持续输注用于剖宫产术后患者自控硬膜外镇痛术后疼痛VAS评分最小，患者镇痛满意度最高。【Abstract】 Objective To observe the effect of postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) with three different doses of sufentanil combined with 0.125% ropivacaine after cesarean section. Methods Data was collected from April 2009 to November 2009. Sixty patients after cesarean section under continuous epidural anesthesia were randomly divided into three different groups.Group A was given sufentanil 0.3 μg/mL and 0.125% ropivacaine for PCEA, group B was given sufentanil 0.4 μg/mL and 0.125% ropivacaine, group C was given sufentanil 0.5 μg/mL and 0.125% ropivacaine. The analgesia effects were evaluated by the visual analogue scales (VAS). Side effects were also recorded. Results The VAS scores were significantly the highest in group A than that in group B and group C, the VAS scores in group B were higher than that in group C (Plt;0.05). The incidence of side effects, such as postoperative nausea and vomiting, lethargy, and pruritus, was not significant among the three groups (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion 0.5 μg/ mL sufentanil and 0.125% ropivacaine recommended for PCEA with background 4 mL/h is safe and effective for patients after cesarean section.