[Comparison of lumbar plexus block and epidural block for elderly patients undergoing intertrochanteric femoral fracture surgery].

Objective: To compare the anesthesia efficacy, hemodynamics, recovery of passage of gas by anus and bladder function in elderly patients with operation of intertrochanteric femoral fracture with epidural or lumbar plexus block.

Methods: Sixty patients with intertrochanteric femoral fracture, aged 65-97, were randomly divided into 3 equal groups: lumbar plexus group (Group A, undergoing posterior lumbar plexus block) and epidural group (Group B, undergoing epidural block at L(1-2) interspace). The block onset time, anesthesia efficacy, transfusion amount during operation, blood pressure and heart rate change 1 h after anesthesia, and recovery after anesthesia were observed.

Results: The block onset time on femoral nerve, lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh, obturator nerve, and saphenous nerve of Group A were (2.7 +/- 2.0) min, (3.1 +/- 3.4) min, (3.5 +/- 3.3) min, and (3.7 +/- 3.1) min respectively, all significantly shorter than those of Group B [(13.5 +/- 2.1) min, (13.5 +/- 2.1) min, (13.5 +/- 2.1) min, and (13.5 +/- 2.1) min respectively, all P < 0.01]. The duration of postoperative analgesia of Group A was (420 +/- 152) min, significantly longer than that of Group B [(204 +/- 44) min, P < 0.05]. There were no significant differences in the change of blood pressure and heart rate between these 2 groups. The blood pressure decreased significantly 10 - 60 min after anesthesia in Group B, and remained stable in Group A. The transfusion amount of Group A was (773 +/- 353) ml, significantly fewer than that in Group B [(1483 +/- 444) ml, P < 0.01]. Passage of gas by anus started (1.1 +/- 0.6) h after operation in Group A, a time significantly shorter than that in Group B (5.9 +/- 1.2) h, P < 0.01). Urinary retention was seen in 8 patients of Group B, however, no patient in Group A showed incidence of urinary retention (P < 0.01). Forty-eight patients, 20 in Group A and 28 in Group B got excellent anesthesia effect, and 12 of them, 10 in Group A and 2 in Group B, got relatively good anesthesia (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Both lumbar plexus block and epidural block provide satisfactory anesthetic efficacy for operation of intertrochanteric femoral fracture in elderly patients. Epidural block provide better efficacy, and lumbar plexus block shows faster recovery of digestive system and urinary system after operation.