Anestesia e Pesquisa Clínica
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Epidural Anesthesia vs General Anesthesia in Uterine Artery Embolization

Mona Mohamed Mogahed, Jehan Ezzat Hamed and Hesham Soliman Mohammad Refaat

Background: Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) has been used worldwide for the treatment of uterine fibroids. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the effects of epidural analgesia (EDA) given only intraoperatively to those of general anesthesia (does it still affect in recovery) in women undergoing uterine artery embolization (UAE) for the treatment of systematic uterine fibroids.

Patients and methods: A total of 40 ASA1-III patients (ages 35-55) selected for uterine artery embolization were divided into 2 groups i.e. an epidural anesthesia group (A) and a general anesthesia group (B). Each group comprised of 20 individuals. The parameters i.e. pain scoring, incidence of nausea and vomiting, need for opioids, overall patient satisfaction score and discharge from hospital were measured. Pain intensity was measured using VAS (1–10) at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h. Nausea lasting more than 10 min or vomiting was treated with ondansetron 4 mg. Patient satisfaction for postoperative analgesia was recorded according to a satisfaction score (poor=0, fair=1, good=2, excellent=3). All data were recorded with residents of anesthesia. Primary outcome was morphine and or pethidine, consumption in the first 24 h. Secondary outcome measures were; pain intensity, postoperative analgesic consumption, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and patient satisfaction.

Results: Differences in the heart rate between the 2 groups were statistically significant at all readings where group (B) patients developed less significant tachycardia compared to group (A) patients. Differences in systolic blood pressure values between the 2 groups were statistically significant lower in group (B) compared to group (A) at 2 points: after 5 min & after 10 min from induction of anesthesia. Differences in diastolic blood pressure values between the 2 groups were statistically significant lower in group (A) compared to group (B) at all times except preoperative reading. Thus the epidural anesthesia provided more hemodynamic stability than general anesthesia, Postoperative pain severity of the patients significantly decreased in each group at recovery room (time 0) and postoperative 1st, 2nd, 4th, 12th and 24th h (repeated measured variance analysis, p<0.001. However, the reduction of postoperative VAS scores was more in epidural anesthesia group than general anesthesia (repeated measured variance analysis, test, p=0.466.

Conclusion: Uterine artery embolization for fibroids is an effective and safe therapeutic modality for symptomatic fibroids especially for those patients who like to preserve their uterus. Recovery and time to return to normal activities is shorter than hysterectomy and open myomectomy. With the results of the present study it can be concluded that epidural anaesthesia was much better in pain relief, less sedating effect and overall patient satisfaction. Thus, epidural anaesthesia technique can be helpful for women undergoing UAE to recover faster providing good symptom relief for most patients.