Continuous thoracic epidural fentanyl. A comparison of epidural fentanyl with intramuscular papaveretum for postoperative pain.

A prospective open trial was conducted to compare the analgesic and side-effects of continuously infused fentanyl into the thoracic epidural space with those of intramuscular papaveretum given 4 hourly as required. It was demonstrated that during the first 24 hours after upper abdominal surgery thoracic epidural fentanyl produced better analgesia with less sedation than intramuscular papaveretum. However, the epidural group suffered more nausea. Likewise, postoperative respiratory function tests were statistically significantly better in those patients who received epidural fentanyl. Despite a significantly greater volume of nasogastric aspirate during the period of study, the epidural fentanyl group also had a significantly greater urine output than did the patients receiving papaveretum. Hypotension and respiratory depression were not problems, but pruritus occurred in two patients given fentanyl. It is concluded that epidural fentanyl delivered by continuous infusion offers significant advantages over a conventional intramuscular narcotic regime.