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[Continuous epidural anesthesia with 0.2% ropivacaine associated to general anesthesia for upper abdominal surgery in

Jyrson Guilherme Klamt1, Luis Vicente Garcia, Renato Mestriner Stocche

  • 1Disciplina de Anestesiologia, Dept masculine de Biomecânica, Medicina e Reabilitação do Aparelho Locomotor, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto, USP.

Revista Brasileira De Anestesiologia
|May 29, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Adding sufentanil to propofol infusion during pediatric upper abdominal surgery under epidural anesthesia reduced propofol requirements and sedation duration. Both anesthetic techniques provided effective and safe recovery for children.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Pharmacology

Context:

  • Pediatric upper abdominal surgeries require effective anesthesia and analgesia.
  • Epidural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia is a common approach.
  • Optimizing anesthetic agents like propofol and sufentanil is crucial for patient recovery.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate the impact of propofol infusion rate and postanesthetic recovery in pediatric patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery.
  • To compare general anesthesia with propofol versus propofol plus sufentanil, combined with epidural anesthesia (0.2% ropivacaine).

Summary:

  • This study involved 26 pediatric patients (ASA I-III, 0-4 years) receiving thoracic epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine and general anesthesia with either propofol or propofol plus sufentanil.
  • The Sufentanil group required a slower propofol infusion rate. While the Propofol group had faster extubation and transfer to the post-anesthetic recovery unit (PACU), they experienced longer sedation.
  • Recovery scores were comparable, with all patients ready for ward transfer within three hours of PACU admission. Transient hypotension occurred in two patients in the Sufentanil group.

Impact:

  • Continuous thoracic epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine and propofol infusion is safe and effective for pediatric upper abdominal surgeries.
  • The addition of sufentanil to propofol infusion decreases propofol requirements and sedation duration.
  • Findings guide anesthetic choices to improve pediatric surgical recovery and safety.
Abstract

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