Effect of Postoperative Patient-Controlled Epidural Analgesia with Different Doses of Sufentanil after Cesarean Section

Objective To observe the effect of postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia ( PCEA) with three different doses of sufentanil combined with 0. 125% ropivacaine after cesarean section. Methods Data was collected from April 2009 to November 2009. Sixty patients after cesarean section under continuous epidural anesthesia were randomly divided into three different groups. Group A was given sufentanil 0. 3 μg/mL and 0. 125% ropivacaine for PCEA,group B was given sufentanil 0. 4 μg/mL and 0. 125% ropivacaine,group C was given sufentanil 0. 5 μg/mL and 0. 125% ropivacaine. The analgesia effects were evaluated by the visual analogue scales ( VAS). Side effects were also recorded. Results The VAS scores were significantly the highest in group A than that in group B and group C,the VAS scores in group B were higher than that in group C ( P 0. 05). The incidence of side effects,such as postoperative nausea and vomiting,lethargy,and pruritus,was not significant among the three groups ( P 0. 05). Conclusion 0. 5 μg/ mL sufentanil and 0. 125% ropivacaine recommended for PCEA with background 4 mL/h is safe and effective for patients after cesarean section.