Comparison of Epidural Bupivacaine and Buprenorphine to Bupivacaine and Butorphanol for Postoperative Analgesia in Lower Limb Orthopedic Surgery

BACKGROUND: Postoperative analgesia is of utmost importance in the treatment of patients undergoing surgery. Good postoperative pain management reduces hospital stay and improves early ambulation. This study compared the efficacy of epidural bupivacaine with buprenorphine to butorphanol in lower limb orthopedic surgery. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to investigate the onset of analgesia, the extent of analgesia, sedation score, and side effects of butorphanol with bupivacaine versus buprenorphine with bupivacaine. METHODS: In a clinical trial study, 100 patients who underwent elective orthopedic lower limb surgery were randomly allocated to two groups. A total of 100 patients with American Society of anesthesiologists grades I and II posted for lower limb orthopedic surgery were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind study. The patients were divided into groups A and B. Subarachnoid block was achieved with 3.4 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine. The pain was monitored by the visual analog scale postoperatively. The patients in group A received bupivacaine with buprenorphine, and group B received bupivacaine with butorphanol when they complained of pain in the postoperative period. The onset of analgesia, duration of analgesia, sedation score, and side effects were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The onset of analgesia was observed earlier in group A than in group B (7.7 ± 1.6 vs. 12.6 ± 1.7 minutes, P < 0.001). The duration of analgesia was longer in group A than in group B (590 ± 40 vs. 480 ± 54 minutes, P < 0.001). Pulse rates and mean arterial pressures were significantly different (P < 0.001). Side effects were common in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Buprenorphine added to bupivacaine provides earlier onset and longer postoperative epidural analgesia than epidural butorphanol with bupivacaine.