Intrathecal fentanyl in spinal anesthesia for appendectomy

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Surgical Pain Management

Background:

• Spinal anesthesia is commonly used for appendectomy.
• Optimizing intraoperative and postoperative analgesia is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of adding fentanyl to spinal anesthesia for appendectomy.
• To assess the impact on pain control, duration of anesthesia, and patient satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind study involving 40 patients undergoing appendectomy.
• Patients received either bupivacaine with fentanyl (Group F) or bupivacaine with saline (Group S) for spinal anesthesia.

Main Results:

• Fentanyl group (Group F) showed significantly lower pain scores and reduced regression of analgesic level.
• Postoperative analgesic requirement was delayed by over 7 hours in Group F.
• Incidence of shivering was significantly lower in Group F (35% vs. 70%).
• Patient satisfaction was higher in Group F (100% vs. 80%).

Conclusions:

• Intrathecal fentanyl significantly enhances the quality and duration of analgesia during spinal anesthesia for appendectomy.
• Fentanyl administration reduces postoperative pain and shivering, leading to improved patient satisfaction.