Effect of thoracic epidural analgesia on recovery of bowel function after major upper abdominal surgery

We investigated whether thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) shortens the first gas-out time compared to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (iv-PCA) and promotes earlier discharge after major upper abdominal surgery.

Prospective observational study.

A tertiary care university hospital.

Fifty-six patients undergoing major upper abdominal surgery.

TEA (n=28) was performed using a paramedian approach at T6-7 or T7-8. Hydromorphone (8 μg/mL) was added to 0.15% ropivacaine (bolus/lockout time/basal: 3 mL/15 minutes/5 mL). The iv-PCA regimen (n=28) included 20 μg/mL fentanyl (bolus/lockout time/basal: 0.5 mL/15 minutes/0.5 mL). The 2 analgesic methods were maintained for 3 days.

The primary end point was first gas-out time, and the secondary end points were hospital discharge, pain scores, and first voiding time.

No differences in first gas-out time (TEA, 4.1±1.2 days; iv-PCA, 3.4±1.9 days; P=.15) or hospital stay (TEA, 9.8±2.2 days; iv-PCA, 11.4±5.2 days; P=.19) were observed between the 2 groups. A visual analog pain scale scores during rest and coughing were lower in the TEA than those for iv-PCA even with 40% to 46% less rescue analgesic. However, TEA delayed first voiding time (3.6±0.9 vs 2.8±1.6 days; P=.02) and required more frequent bladder catheterization (46% vs 11%; P=.008) than those of iv-PCA.

TEA with a regimen of hydromorphone (8 μg/mL) added to 0.15% ropivacaine did not provide earlier gas-out compared to that of iv-PCA in patients who underwent major upper abdominal surgery.