Levobupivacaine patient controlled analgesia: Epidural versus blind fascia iliaca compartment analgesia – A comparative study

This study was designed to compare the analgesic efficacy of levobupivacaine patient controlled analgesia epidural versus patient controlled analgesia with fascia lliaca compartment block. In patients undergoing fixation of fracture neck femur.MethodsSixty patients ASA II&III undergoing fixation of fracture neck femur were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 30).Group EEpidural group given levobupivacaine 0.25% 15 ml before induction of general anesthesia, followed by postoperative PCEA with levobupivacaine (0.125%).Group FFascia iliaca block group given levobupivacaine 0.25% 30 ml through the catheter before induction of general anesthesia, followed by postoperative patient controlled fascia illiaca analgesia with levobupivacaine (0.125%).Severity of postoperative pain at rest in 24 h using VAS, number of patients required additional analgesia (tramadol) in 24 h, doses of postoperative 24 h tramadol consumed, postoperative mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were recorded.ResultsThe severity of postoperative pain was statistically significantly less in E group, number of patients required tramadol in 24 h were statistically significantly less in E group than F group, postoperative tramadol consumed was statistically significantly less in E group than F group.ConclusionPCEA with levobupivacaine (0.125%) was associated with satisfactory analgesia than patient controlled analgesia with fascia iliaca block in patients undergoing fixation of fracture neck femur.