ObjectiveTo systematically review the protection effect of epidural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia versus general anesthesia alone in patients underwent cardiac surgery, so as to provide evidence for reducing complications of cardiac surgery. MethodsDatabases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2015), WanFang Data, CBM, and CNKI were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about epidural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia versus general anesthesia alone for patients underwent cardiac surgery from inception to February 2015. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 35 RCTs involving 3 311 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with the general anesthesia group, the combination anesthesia group had lower incidence of supraventricular tachycardias (RR=0.63, 95%CI 0.48 to 0.83, P=0.001) and shorter ICU stay time (SMD=-0.57, 95%CI -1.02 to-0.12, P=0.01), but there were no significant differences in the incidences of respiratory complications, myocardial infarction, stroke and mortality between the two groups (all P values >0.05). ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that the combination of epidural anesthesia and general anesthesia has better protection effect than general anesthesia alone in cardiac surgery, but the influence on long-term prognosis still needs to be assessed. Due to the limited quality of included studies, the above conclusion still needs to be verified by more high quality studies．
Objective To investigate the most suitable anaesthesia method for the tension-free herniorrhaphy.Methods A total of 422 unilateral inguinal hernia cases from 2002 to 2005 were collected and randomly divided into the local anaesthesia group and epidural anaesthesia group. Observation indices and some relative data, such as operative duration, date of ambulation, date of foodintake, length of hospital stay, operation-correlated complications, anaesthesia complications, usage rate of ancillary drug, satisfactory rate for anesthesia, cost of hospitalization, were included and recorded in the questionnaire, and all the patients who took the tension-free herniorrhaphy were asked to answer it as the follow-up research. Results It was found that the occurrence of postoperative anaesthetic complications, the cost of hospitalization, length of stay of local anaesthesia group were significantly less than those of epidural anaesthesia group, and the date of moving and the date of foodintake were also significantly earlier than those of the other group (P＜0.05). However, there was no significant difference of operative duration, postoperative recovery situation and the satisfactory rate between two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion The local anaesthesia is suitable for most of the tension-free herniorrhaphy, and it may be used as the conventional anaesthetic method.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia versus epidural patient-controlled analgesia for postoperative analgesia, sedation, and the incidence of side effects. Methods We searched the specialized trials registered in the Cochrane anesthesia group, The Cochrane Library (CCTR), MEDLINE (1966 to Sept. 2008), EMbase (1966 to Sept. 2008), PubMed (1966 to Sept. 2008), and handsearched some Chinese anesthesia Journals and Clinical anesthesia journals. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of intravenous versus epidural analgesia for post-operation were included. The quality of the trials was critically assessed. RevMan 4.2.8 software was used for meta-analyses. Results Thirteen RCTs involving 580 patients of intravenous versus epidural analgesia for post-operation were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that there were no significant differences in postoperative analgesia and sedation at the hour-points of 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, and 24th hours after operation. There were no significant differences in plasma fentanyl concentration in the two groups on the same analgesia effects. There were also no significant differences in side effects. Conclusion Both intravenous patient-controlled analgesia and epidural patient-controlled analgesia have the same clinical effects. Compared with epidural patient-controlled analgesia, intravenous patient-controlled analgesia has fewer side effects and is more convenient. At the same time, it can reduce more costs of hospitalization. But because of the low quality and small sample size of the included studies, more well-designed, large scale, randomized controlled trials are needed.
Objective To observe the effects of epidural anaesthesia (EA) and general anaesthesia (GA) on the changes of plasma epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods Thirty patients undergoing elective LC were randomly divided into GA group (n＝15) and EA group (n＝15). The concentrations of plasma NE and E were measured at the following phases: before anaesthesia, before introducing pneumoperitoneum, during pneumoperitoneum, and at the end of operation. Results In EA group, the concentrations of NE weren′t significantly different at each phase, the concentrations of E significantly increased before and during pneumoperitoneum (Ｐ＜0.05) and returned to the baseline at the end of operation (Ｐ＞0.05). In GA group, the concentrations of NE and E didn′t change significantly before pneumoperitoneum, but increased during pneumoperitoneum (Ｐ＜0.05) and E didn′t return to the baseline at the end of operation (Ｐ＜0.05). The E concentrations of EA group was higher than that of GA group before pneumoperitoneum, but the NE concentration of EA group was lower than that of GA group during pneumoperitoneum (Ｐ＜0.05). Conclusion Both groups has significant stress reaction, but the stress reaction of EA group is weaker than that of GA group during LC.
Objective To explore effective substances and methods for prevention of peridural adhesion. Methods Laminectomy was performed on the 5th lumbar segment in 64 rabbits, which were equally divided into 4 groups. The duramater (12 mm×6 mm) was exposed. The exposed duramater was left uncovered in Group A; the exposed dura mater was covered with sodium hyaluronate jel (high molecular weight, 1 ml) in Group B; the lamina repair was performed with the autologous spinous process in Group C; the lamina repair was performed with the sodium hyaluronate jel filling and the autologous spinousprocess in Group D. The specimens were observed grossly and histologically at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks postoperatively. The computed imaging analysis on the epidural adhesion was also performed at 6 weeks postoperatively. Results ①The gross anatomical evaluation: Severe peridural adhesion was formed in Group A, less adhesion formed in Groups B and C, but no obvious adhesion formed in Group D. ②The area percentage of the epidural scar: The area percentage ofthe epidural scar was 15.89%±1.88% and 13.94%±1.89% in Groups C and D respectively, which were significantly lower than those in Groups A and B (22.66%±2.89% and 20.70%±2.82%,Plt;0.05). ③The density of epidural scar: Thedensity of the epidural scars were 42.03%±7.36% and 36.50%±9.08% in Groups B and D, which were significantly lower than those in Groups A and C (63.73%±6.06% and 52.11%±4.10%，Plt;0.05). Conclusion The high molecular weight sodium hyaluronate jel filling combined with the lamina repair using the autologous spinous process has the best preventive effect on the peridural adhesion after laminectomy.
Objective To investigate the clinical effect of polylactic acid membrane in prevention of epidural scar and adhesion. Methods From July 1998 to April 2000, 62 patients with lumbar disc herniation were randomly assigned into two groups. All were treated surgically with discectomy by fenestration or laminectomy.One group were placed with a thin of polylactic acid membrane covering the interlaminar space(n=32). The thickness of the film was 0.1mm. The other group was blank control(n=30). After 2 weeks of operation, we observed the local and systemic reactions. After 6 months clinical symptoms were revaluated and the degrees of epidural scar and adhesion were determined by CT scans. Results After 2 weeks, we found no adverse systemic reactions in all patients. Wound healing was excellent. No abnormalities of hepatic and renal functions as well as blood for routine were found. Temperature after operation was normal. After 6 months, the curative effects were as follows in experimental group and in control group: excellent in 27 patients and in 24 patients, good in 4 patients and in 4 patients, fair in 1 patient and in 1 patient, and poor in 0 patient and in 1 patient, respectively. There are no significant difference between two groups. The CT scans showed no adhesion between the epidural scar and the dural sac in all patients of experimental group. There existed various extents of adhesion in control group. Conclusion The results demonstrate that the polylactic acidmembrane can effectively prevent the epidural scar adhesion with a good biocompatibility and no toxity. Its clinical application was promising.
Objective To compare the effects of epidural anesthesia with intubated anesthesia in the postoperative recovery of patients with thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae. Methods Sixty patients (53 males, 7 females, aged 16-65 years) undergoing thoracoscopic resection of unilateral pulmonary bullae in our hospital from December 2014 to December 2015 were randomly divided into two groups: a group A (epidural anesthesia group) received thoracic epidural block combined with intraoperative interthoracic vagus nerve block; a group B (general anesthesia group) received general anesthesia with double lumen endobronchial intubation and pulmonary sequestration. Postoperative anesthesia-related complications and postoperative recovery were recorded. Results Both of the two anesthesia methods could meet the requirements of operation. The patients with the vocal cord injury and sore throat in the group B were more than those in the group A. The difference was statistically significant in the incidence of sore throat (P<0.01) . Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in the group A was significantly higher than that of group B before lung recruitment (P<0.01). Compared with the group B, the group A had less visual analogue scale (VAS) score (P<0.05), earlier activity and feeding, less postoperative ICU and hospital stay (P<0.01). Conclusion Epidural anesthesia combined with intraoperative interthoracic vagus nerve block can meet thoracoscopic bullectomy surgery requirements with few complications and fast postoperative recovery.
Objective To explore anesthetic quality of epidural anesthesia with general anesthesia applied for surgery of rectal cancer. Methods One hundred and seventy-eight patients who were diagnosed as rectal cancer and received operation in the Central Hospital of Bazhong City from June 2010 to June 2012 were included retrospectively. These patients were divided into two groups according to the type of anesthesia， and the patients who received general anesthesia only were defined as group A， the patients who received epidural anesthesia with general anesthesia were defined as group B. The anesthetic quality and anesthetic adverse reaction were observed in two groups. Results The differences of baseline characteristics in two groups were not significant （P＞0.05）. The difference of anesthetic quality in two groups was not significant （P＞0.05）. In terms of anesthetic adverse reaction， the incidence rate of hypertension， hypotension，tachycardia， or postoperative nausea and vomiting of the group B was significantly lower than those of the group A （P＜0.05）. The incidence rate of bradycardia， premature ventricular contractions， or time of gastrointestinal function recovery had no significant differences （P＞0.05）. There was no nerve dysfunction of lower limb in two groups. Conclusion Epidural anesthesia with general anesthesia applied for surgery of rectal cancer as compared with general anesthesia only not only has the same anesthetic quality， but also has obvious advantages in decreasing anesthetic adverse reaction.
ObjectiveTo compare postoperative patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCIA) on maternal low back pain after caesarean section. MethodsSixty cases of American Society of Anesthesiology gradeⅠ-Ⅱ single-birth full-term elective caesarean delivery primiparae chosen between July to September 2012 were divided into 3 groups randomly, 20 in each group. Group A accepted sufentanil 1 μg/mL and ropivacaine 1 mg/mL PCEA; group B had sufentanil 1.5 μg/mL PCEA; group C was given sufentanil 1.5 μg/mL and ondansetron 0.16 mg/mL PCIA. Background dose was 2 mL/h, patient-controlled analgesia dose was 2 mL, and locking time was 20 min. Visual analogue pain score was used to assess the effect of postoperative analgesia, and we recorded analgesia pump usage, adverse reactions, and at the same time investigated the onset of maternal low back pain. ResultsNo obvious postoperative pain was found, and the analgesic effect was good in all the three groups, and the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). All three groups of women had a certain proportion of low back pain, and the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). After operation, group A had 5 cases of leg numbness, group B had 1, and group C had none. Leg numbness occurred significantly more in group A than in group B and C (P<0.05). Group B had one case of nausea and vomiting, while none occurred in group A and C (P>0.05). ConclusionWith the same effect of postoperative analgesia, compared with PCIA, PCEA does not increase postoperative low back pain incidence after caesarean section.