A comparison of patient-controlled epidural analgesia following gynaecological surgery with and without a background infusion

We conducted a randomised, controlled study to investigate the effect of ad ding a background infusion to patient-controlled epidural analgesia for pos toperative pain relief. Forty-two patients scheduled for elective lower abd ominal gynaecological surgery received patient-controlled epidural analgesi a postoperatively using a mixture of 0.2% ropivacaine and 2.0 mu g.ml(-1) f entanyl. Patients in group B (n = 20) were given a background infusion of 5 ml.h(-1), whereas those in group N (n = 21) were not. There was no differe nce in pain scores or patient satisfaction scores between the two groups. P atients in group B had a higher total drug consumption (156.8 +/- 34.8 mi v s. 89.5 +/- 41.0 mi, p < 0.0001) and incidence of side-effects (71.4% vs. 3 0.0%; p = 0.007). Motor blockade during the 24-h study period was also grea ter in group B (median [range] area under the curve 7.5 [0.0-39.0] h vs. 3. 0 [0.0-36.0] h; p = 0.035). We conclude that the addition of a background i nfusion to patient-controlled epidural anaesthesia is not recommended as it confers no additional benefits.