[Postoperative pulmonary function following abdominal surgery. Comparison of continuous, segmental thoracic peridural...

Respiratory function was studied in 35 patients after upper abdominal surgery, who had been randomized into two groups. 15 patients (median age: 59 years) were operated on using neuroleptanalgesia and received intramuscular piritramide as postoperative analgesic. A continuous thoracic epidural was placed prior to surgery in 20 patients (median age 52 years). A light general anaesthesia was additionally given when these patients were operated on. Postoperatively, epidural analgesia was continued by infusion of 0.25-0.3 ml/kg X h 0.125% bupivacaine via epidural catheter over a period of 4 days. If pain prevention during coughing and getting up was not complete, top-ups of 6-10 ml 0.25% bupivacaine were given additionally. Respiratory function (FVC, peak expiratory flow, VT, VD/VT, RR, MV, VA, AaDO2(0.21), PaO2 and PaCO2) was investigated before surgery, and on the 1st, 3rd and 5th postoperative day, the patients breathing room air. Results (the median of each groups is plotted, the values of the epidural group being in brackets. 0: preop., 1: first, 3: third, 5: fifth postop. day): FVC 0: 3.05 (3.16) 1: 1.42 (1.40) 3: 1.64 (1.42) 5: 1.39 (2.27) 1. Peak expiratory flow 0: 310 (287) 1: 118 (113) 3: 130 (127) 5: 153 (194) 1/min. Respiratory rate 0: 16 (14.5) 1: 20 (18.5) 3: 16 (18.5) 5: 17 (17) min-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)