The effects of the addition of sufentanil to 0.125% bupivacaine on the quality of analgesia during labor and on the incidence of instrumental deliveries.

In a double-blinded, randomized, prospective multi-center study of 695 women, we investigated whether epidural injection of sufentanil added to 0.125% bupivacaine with epinephrine (1:800,000) reduces the total amount of local anesthetic required, resulting in less motor blockade and reduced incidence of instrumental deliveries, and improves the quality of analgesia provided by this low concentration of local anesthetic without jeopardizing the safety of the baby. In addition, other potential benefits of sufentanil (such as decrease in the incidence of shivering) and side effects were examined.

Placebo-controlled trial of cisapride in postoperative ileus.

The effect of 4 mg of the gastrointestinal motility enhancing agent cisapride on postoperative ileus was compared with that of a placebo in 53 patients who had undergone various types of surgery. They received one i.v.