[Influences of anesthetic method on post-cholecystectomy pain--a comparison between epidural and general anesthesia]

This study was designed to compare the influence of epidural anesthesia with that of general anesthesia on postoperative pain state and management. We studied 16 patients who underwent elective laparotomy-cholecystectomy with epidural anesthesia without general anesthesia or with general anesthesia (nitrous oxide-isoflurane). Following bolus epidural injection with 3 micrograms.kg-1 of buprenorphine in 0.25% bupivacaine 4-7 ml at the end of surgery, all patients received continuous epidural buprenorphine administration at the rate of 12 micrograms.h-1 for 48 hours. Pain relief was assessed for 72 hours after surgery using visual analogue scale. Postoperative rest pain of the epidural group remained at a lower state of pain than that of the general anesthesia group not only for 48 hours (P < 0.005) but also until 72 hours (P < 0.005) after surgery. We concluded that the epidural anesthesia produces a greater postoperative pain relief than general anesthesia.