Since the first use of epidural morphine in man, a number of other opiates have been studied including fentanyl, pethidine, methadone, diamorphine and buprenorphine. Among them buprenophine is a relatively new synthetic opiate that is known to be
highly
lipophilic and to have an affinity for the opiate receptor approximately twice that of morphine. It is produced in a preservative free solution, and would seem a logical choice for epidural analgesia. But there was no data on the adequate dose
for
the
postoperative pain control after lower abdominal surgery. Current study was designed to investigate the efficacy of three doses of epidural buprenorphine for postoperative pain control with the checking the pain score.
Fifty seven female patients undergoing elective lower abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to receive epidural buprenorphine as a rate of 0.3 (group A, initial dose 0.15 mg + maintenance dose 0.15 mg), 0.45 (group B, 0.15 mg + 0.3 mg), or 0.6
mg
(group C, 03 mg + 0.3 mg) utilizing the Two-day InfusorTM during the two days after cessation of operation. Authors compared the efficacy of three doses with hour postoperatively. Side0effects were recorded.
There were no significant difference among three groups with respects to mean age. Analgesic effects for patients receiving 0.6 mg (group C) were superior to those of group A but were not significantly different from analgesic effects of group B
except
6 hour postoperatively. Side-effects (nausea and vomiting) of group C were significantly more than group B.
The dose of epidural buprenorphine in Group B (initial dose 0.15 mg+maintenance dose 0.3 mg) may be recommended for postoperative analgesia following lower abdominal surgery. (Korean J Anesthesiol 1995; 29: 118~124)
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