Effect of Adding Fentanyl to Bupivacaine on Patients Undergoing Transurethral Resection of the Prostate with Spinal Anesthesia: A Clinical trial

Spinal anesthesia is commonly used in transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). To reduce the complications of spinal anesthesia, opioids could be helpful in decreasing the amount of anesthetic drug. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low doses of bupivacaine and fentanyl on the levels of sensory block and motor block.

A clinical trial was conducted in 80 TURP candidates in Babol Rouhani Hospital, 2016-2017. They were randomly divided into two groups (n= 40 per group) to receive either 7.5 mg bupivacaine 0.5% and 25 mcg of fentanyl (BF group) or 10mg bupivacaine 0.5% (B group). Duration of anesthesia, motor block (using Bromage score), pain intensity during the operation, and mean arterial pressure were recorded. Data were analyzed in SPSS V20.

There were no significant differences between the two groups in duration of anesthesia and mean arterial pressure (P<0.05). The mean score for pain was significantly lower in BF group than the B group (P=0.007). The levels of sensory block in group B were significantly higher than the BF group (P<0.001). Also, motor block return time and recovery time were significantly shorter in BF group than those in B group (P<0.001).

According to the current study, administration of bupivacaine and fentanyl can cause appropriate level of sensory block and could relief pain during TURP. Also, some complications such as long-term motor block and long-term staying in recovery would reduce.