Interpleural and epidural bupivacaine for pain relief after lumbar surgery

In this study we compared the postoperative analgesic effects of interpleural and epidural bupivacaine administration. Twenty patients scheduled for lumbar surgery were studied. Twenty patients were divided into two equal groups. The quantity of local anaesthetics which we have used can be seen below: Group I; bupivacaine 20 ml 0.5% was completed up to 40 ml with 0.9% saline solution and was given to the patients in left lateral position in 5-10 minutes via interpleural catheter. Group II; bupivacaine 10 ml 0.5% was completed up to 20 ml with 0.9% saline solution and was given to the patients in 5-10 minutes via thoracal epidural catheter. Tidal volumes (VT), respiratory rates (f), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP), heart rates (HR) and visual analog scala (VAS) were measured in pre and postoperative periods at 30th, 90th, 150th and 24th hour following drug administration. We evaluated the duration of analgesia in the postoperative period. It was found that VT had increased with both methods. There were no statistically significant VAS values in two groups. It was shown that duration of analgesia was longer in group I than in group II. It was concluded that both interpleural and epidural bupivacaine provides good postoperative pain relief in lumbar surgery