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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Published on: May 26, 2023
[Optimal dose of fentanyl for postoperative epidural analgesia after thoracic surgery]
Akio Yamagishi1, Yuichi Asai, Hiroshi Iwasaki
1Department of Anesthesiology, Obihiro National Hospital, Obihiro 080-8518.
Background:
We investigated the dose of fentanyl in ropivacaine for epidural anesthesia that will provide effective analgesia with minimal side effects after thoracic surgery.
Methods:
Sixty patients scheduled to undergo thoracic surgery were randomly allocated to four groups according to fentanyl dose in epidural analgesia: group R (0 microg x hr(-1); n = 15), group F1 (5 microg x hr(-1); n = 15), group F2 (10 microg x hr(-1); n = 15) and group F3 (15 microg x hr(-1); n = 15). Pain scores (visual analogue scale: VAS) were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hrs after surgery. Degrees of satisfaction regarding pain relief and complications during a period of 48 hrs after surgery were compared.
Results:
Pain scores in group F3 were significantly lower than those in the other groups at 3, 6, and 12 hrs after surgery. The number of postoperative analgesics used in group R was significantly more than the numbers used in other groups. The incidences of side effects were similar in the four groups.
Conclusions:
We conclude that continuous epidural administration of more than 15 microg x hr(-1) of fentanyl in ropivacaine provides pain relief and few side effects after thoracic surgery.
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