A comparison of two doses of epidural fentanyl during caesarean section.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was performed to compare the analgesic efficacy and side effects of epidural fentanyl, 25 micrograms vs 50 micrograms, when used to supplement epidural anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section. Fifty ASA I and II patients were randomized into two groups: Group I (n = 24) received 25 micrograms and Group II (n = 26) received 50 micrograms of epidural fentanyl after the epidural test dose. No differences between the two groups were found on any measures of intraoperative pain, nausea, drowsiness, respiratory depression, hypotension, pruritus and neonatal outcome. The low levels of pain experienced by patients indicates that doses higher than 50 micrograms of epidural fentanyl are usually unnecessary for optimal analgesia.