Comparison of standing stability with different doses in epidural fentanyl among post-cesarean delivery women: a prospective trial

BACKGROUND: The study purpose was to determine the safety and efficacy of different doses of epidural fentanyl plus local anesthetics on ambulation for patients who had elective cesarean delivery. METHODS: A prospective study at a single community hospital used posturography to compute Sway area for assessment of standing stability [ISRCTN14517337]. Continuous epidural infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine containing either 2.5 mcg.mL(-1) (Group 1, n = 8) or 5 mcg.mL(-1) fentanyl (Group 2, n = 8) was randomly assigned to an individual and started at a rate of 5 mL.h(-1) postoperatively and continued for 48 hours after cesarean delivery in addition to standing acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Posturography measured with SYMPACK™ was used to compute Sway area for investigation of standing stability. The unpaired t-test was used to compare continuous variables between groups. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess differences of Sway area measured repeatedly within groups. RESULTS: Participants’ demographics, pain status, and leg motor function one day after cesarean delivery were not different between groups. Sway area in Group 1 was not different across three repeated measurements. Sway area of Group 2 on postoperative day 1, with epidural analgesia, was significantly higher than at the baseline (4.1 ± 2.8 vs. 3.1 ± 1.1 cm(2), p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Because both low and high concentrations of epidural fentanyl allowed participants to ambulate with the same pain effect, the lower concentration of continuous epidural fentanyl (2.5 mcg.mL(-1) at 5 mL.h(-1)) is warranted to avoid potential adverse events during ambulation after cesarean delivery.