Effects of epidural anesthesia on acute and chronic pain after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) as an adjunct to general anesthesia (GA) on postoperative pain after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: Between April 2009 and March 2010, 40 patients with ischemic heart disease scheduled for elective CABG were prospectively randomized to receive either GA (n = 20) or GA + TEA (n = 20). Through epidural catheters, patients received an infusion of (10-20 mg/h) 0.25%-bupivacaine intraoperatively and during the first 24 hours after surgery. Study endpoints included assessment of postoperative pain at rest and with coughing, rescue analgesic need, and postoperative course.

Results: The differences in pain scores were decreased at rest during 6 (0.1 ± 0.3 vs. 2.4 ± 1.8; p < 0.05) and 12 hours (0.1 ± 0.3 vs. 3.9 ± 2.3; p < 0.05) and with coughing at 6 (0.1 ± 0.3 vs. 5.6 ± 2.2; p < 0.05), 12 (0.1 ± 0.3 vs. 5.9 ± 2.3; p < 0.05), and 24 hours (0.05 ± 0.2 vs. 4.6 ± 2.9; p < 0.05) in the GA + TEA group. At one-month follow-up, pain scores were decreased in GA + TEA group (0.3 ± 0.7 vs. 1.6 ± 1.3; p = 003). There was no significant difference at three and six months. Mechanical ventilation time (4.7 ± 1.2 vs. 2.9 ± 1.1 hours; p < 0.05), intensive care unit stay (28.4 ± 9.0 vs. 22.4 ± 3.4 hours; p < 0.05), and hospital stay (7.2 ± 1.1 vs. 6.1 ± 0.3 days; p = 0.001) were reduced in the GA + TEA group.

Conclusions: TEA significantly reduced the intensity of postoperative pain and analgesic consumption in the early postoperative period following CABG. The delivery of effective analgesia along with conventional medications may prevent chronic pain after surgery.