Influence of Epidural Analgesia in Elective Laparoscopic Colorectal Resections

University Hospital Basel

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Pain

Treatments: Drug: epidural analgesia (Duracain/Fentanyl/Naropin)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00512395

STZ 13/04

Details and patient eligibility

About

Epidural anaesthesia in open surgery is a effective method for analgesia and has a positive effect on postoperative resolution of ileus. In laparoscopic surgery, the role of epidural surgery is not established. This prospective observational trial evaluates the effect of epidural analgesia in patients undergoing elective, laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Full description

All patients with elective, laparoscopic colorectal resection between November 2004 and January 2007 were included in the trial. The decision for epidural analgesia was made by the anaesthetist and the patient. Contraindications were previous back surgery, coagulopathy, severe spondylarthrosis and refusal by the patient as contraindications.

Primary outcome was subjective feeling postoperatively, assessed with a VAS for pain and cramps and amount of analgesics used. Secondary outcomes were duration of postoperative bowel dismotility (first flatus, first defecation, first solid food intake) and general and specific morbidity.

Enrollment: 75 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• elective laparoscopic colorectal resection

Exclusion criteria

• emergency surgery
• preoperatively planned stoma formation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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75 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Active Comparator group

Description:

epidural analgesia

Treatment:

Drug: epidural analgesia (Duracain/Fentanyl/Naropin)

2

No Intervention group

Description:

traditional analgesia with opioids