Evaluation of patient-controlled analgesia through intravenous or epidural infusion of fentanyl

Objective:To investigate the effects and safety of patient-controlled analgesia(PCA) through intravenous or epidural infusion of fentanyl.Methods:Forty patients undergoing hysterectomy through abdomen were divided randomly into group A(n=20) and group B(n=20),patients in group A underwent patient-controlled analgesia through intravenous infusion of fentanyl(PCIA),patients in group B underwent patient-controlled analgesia through epidural infusion of fentanyl(PCEA).Load dose of fentanyl in the two groups was all 50 μg.The prescription of PCA:fentanyl 1000 μg + droperidol 5 mg +0.9% sodium chloride to 100 mL.The speed of continued drug infusion was 1 mL · h-1,a single dose of PCA was 1 mL,and lockout time was 15 min.Regular postoperative score of analgesia and sedation and survey of patients' satisfaction were carried out;times of demand compression and effective compression of the PCA device,fentanyl dose and side effects in 48h were observed.Results:Times of demand compression and effective compression of the PCA device,fentanyl dose between the two groups had significantly differences(P 0.05),and all patients in the two groups acquired satisfactory analgesia and sedation;compared group A with group B for pain with visual analogue score(VAS) and sedation with Ramesay score,the differences were significant(P 0.05);differences of the side effects incidence between the two groups were significant(P0.05);the overall satisfactory rate of analgesic and sedative effect in group A and B was 90% and 85% respectively.Conclusion:The fentanyl for postoperative analgesia is safe and effective,and the effect of PCIA is better than PCEA..