Intrathecal sufentanil as a supplement to subarachnoid anaesthesia with lignocaine

The combination of low-dose sufentanil with lignocaine for subarachnoid anaesthesia was studied in a double-blind comparative trial in 40 urological patients. Patients were allocated randomly to two groups and received 5% heavy lignocaine 1.5 ml together with either 1.5 ml of sufentanil 5 micrograms ml-1, or physiological saline 1.5 ml. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to analgesia or anaesthesia. The only clear benefit of the addition of a low dose of sufentanil to lignocaine was the significantly longer period of postoperative analgesia. There was no significant difference in the number of patients requiring supplementary analgesics. Side-effects were similar in both groups.