Postoperative analgesia using epidural infusions of fentanyl with bupivacaine. A prospective analysis of 1,014 patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Epidural fentanyl/bupivacaine infusions often are limited to high dependency units or intensive care units. One thousand fourteen patients receiving epidural fentanyl/bupivacaine infusions for analgesia after major surgery who were managed in the general surgical ward were prospectively surveyed. METHODS: Patients leaving the recovery room with an epidural catheter in situ were assessed three times a day by acute pain service personnel for quality of pain relief, using a rating scale that accounted for pain on movement. The presence of side effects and complications was assessed. RESULTS: Data were collected from February 1990 to May 1993. The average duration of infusion was 3 d..