Objectives: patients who are submitted to posterior laminectomy often complain of severe pain that is difficult to treat. The transdermal application of the potent opioid fentanyl results in its continuous liberation and consequently could be useful in controlling the pain. This study evaluated the efficacy of transdermal fentanyl (F) delivery system for acute postoperative pain after posterior laminectomy. METHODS: the study was approved by the local Ethic Committee and conducted in the Teaching Hospital. After the patient's consent, 24 patients were randomized to either transdermic F 25 mg/h (n=12) or transdermic placebo (n=12). All patients were submitted to posterior laminectomy under a standard general anesthesia. Transdermic systems were placed during 10 hours preoperatively and removed 24 hours later; 20 minute IV ketoprofen, 2.5 mg/kg was administered following traqueal intubation with propofol, alfentanil and atracurium. IV 20 mg/kg dipyrone act as rescue at a minimum six hours interval. Data was recorded for 36 hours. RESULTS: the transdermic F Group showed 60% of reduction in the rescue dipyrone consumption (p<0.05); and displayed lesser VAS scores after the 12th hour, which was maintained until the 36th hour (p<0.02). All physiological parameters fluctuated within normal range and no differences were observed between the treatments. The incidence of adverse events was similar between the groups, there was local erythema in the transdermic F (30 versus 5%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: transdermic F combined with IV ketoprofen was effective in controlling postoperative pain after posterior laminectomy. Additionally, the safety and tolerability of this regimen were similar to the Placebo Group
Fentanyl; Administration, cutaneous; Pain, postoperative
