Post-operative @entity1337 by epidural versus intramuscular XXXX after thoracotomy. Part II.

@entity1 @entity308 @entity55 @entity1337 @entity358 @entity158 @entity47059
One hundred and sixty-three @entity1 subjected to three different types of thoracic operation were allocated randomly either to balanced intravenous anaesthesia including i.v. opiates with post-operative intramuscular opiates (intramuscular group) or to balanced intravenous anaesthesia without i.v. opiates but with high thoracic epidural regional block during the operation as well as epidural @entity47059 post-operatively (epidural group). Post-operative @entity47059 in either group was given only at the request of the @entity1 and as frequently as needed to obtain satisfactory @entity158 relief. @entity1 in the epidural group were given @entity47059 exclusively by epidural injection. @entity1 in the epidural group required significantly less @entity47059 for effective @entity158 relief (29 mg (sd = 10) over a period of 3 days compared to 52 mg (sd = 27) in the intramuscular group. Significantly fewer @entity358 in the epidural group were observed (9 atelectases in 83 @entity1 in the epidural group compared to 24 atelectases in 80 @entity1 in the intramuscular group). Only one @entity1 developed @entity55 (intramuscular group). Although the epidural catheter was inserted at the T3-T4 level, no signs of @entity308 were found; on the contrary, respiration in the epidural group was significantly better than the intramuscular group. None of the @entity1 , in either @entity1337 group, needed to be ventilated post-operatively.
