Evaluation of thoracic epidural catheter position and migration using radio-opaque catheters.

Migration of thoracic epidural radio-opaque catheters was evaluated in 25 patients scheduled for thoracic surgery in the supine position (n = 5) or in the lateral position with lateral extension of the thoracic spine (n = 20). Chest radiography was performed daily for 3 days after operation. Eighty-nine per cent of catheter tips were visualised in the epidural space.

Pharmacokinetics of epidurally administered nicomorphine with its metabolites and glucuronide conjugates in patients undergoing pulmonary surgery during combined epidural local anaesthetic block and general anaesthesia.

After epidural administration of 15 mg 3, 6-dinicotinoylmorphine (nicomorphine) in 10 patients undergoing pulmonary surgery, the parent compound was quickly metabolized into the metabolites 6-mononicotinoylmorphine and morphine. The mean apparent half-lives (+/- SD) of elimination were 10 min (0.165 h +/- 0.

Continuous high thoracic epidural administration of morphine with bupivacaine after thoracotomy.

Background And Objectives: The purpose of the study is to determine the ideal concentration of morphine when given with bupivacaine as a continuous high thoracic epidural infusion for postthoracotomy pain.

Methods: In a prospective study, 60 patients scheduled for thoracic surgery received a high thoracic epidural catheter. Postoperative analgesia was provided by a continuous epidural infusion for 3 days.

High thoracic epidural sufentanil with bupivacaine: continuous infusion of high volume versus low volume.

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether continuous infusion of a high volume of a sufentanil/bupivacaine mixture at a high thoracic level improves the analgesic effect of the mixture, compared with a dose-equivalent continuous low-volume infusion. In a prospective, observer-blind study, 60 patients scheduled for thoracic surgery received a thoracic epidural catheter for 3 days. The patients were randomly assigned by lot to one of two groups: a low-volume (LV) group (bupivacaine 0.

Thoracic epidural bupivacaine plus sufentanil: high concentration/low volume versus low concentration/high volume.

Background And Objectives: To compare the postoperative analgesic and side effects of a continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine with sufentanil: high concentration/low volume versus low concentration/high volume.

Methods: In a prospective study, 30 patients scheduled for thoracic surgery had a thoracic epidural catheter inserted. Postoperative analgesia was provided by a continuous epidural infusion for 3 days.