Effectiveness of bupivacaine and tramadol in postoperative pain management - A prospective study

Background: Surgeries are associated with significant postoperative pain. Postoperative pain is usually of longer duration and recurs after few hours. The caudal epidural block is considered as the procedure of choice for pain relief in such cases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of epidurally administered Bupivacaine and Tramadol in surgeries including cesarean sections and other gynecological surgeries. Aim of the Study: Effectiveness of bupivacaine and tramadol in postoperative pain management Materials and methods: A total of 100 cases were included in this study between the age group of 15 years and 65 years. They were grouped into group A - Bupivacaine group and group B - Tramadol group. Results: The mean interval between 1st and 2nd dose in Group A was 268.15 minutes and in Group B was 398.35 minutes. Dose intervals between 2nd and 3rd dose in Group A were 279.52 minutes and in Group B 371.41 minutes. Dose intervals between 3rd and 4th dose in Group A were 266.42 and in Group B was 321.15 minutes. There were no cases which required the 4th dose of the drug in this study. Conclusion: Postoperative consumption of analgesia was higher in the Bupivacaine group. Epidural tramadol 100 mg in 10 ml provides better and longer duration of anesthesia with rapid onset and no incidence of complications.