Post-operative XXXX by epidural versus intramuscular @entity47059 after thoracotomy. Part I.

@entity1 @entity47059 @entity158 @entity1337
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 was given only at the request of the @entity1 and as frequently as needed to obtain satisfactory @entity158 relief. @entity1 in the epidural group received @entity47059 exclusively by epidural injection. In this paper (Part I), general parameters between the epidural group and the im. group are compared. The epidural group showed acceptable cardiovascular stability during the operation. With the catheter tip at the T3-T4 level, there was apparently a preferential spread downwards of the local anaesthetics. Post-operatively both groups (i.m. and epidural) provided effective and rapid onset of @entity1337 . There were no major differences in post-operative @entity158 assessment, either by the @entity1 or by the team.
