Efficacy of Continuous Intrathecal Infusion Trialing with a Mixture of Fentanyl and Bupivacaine in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients.

研究概要

Thirty-six patients with refractory chronic low back pain were randomized to receive either intrathecal fentanyl/bupivacaine followed by saline or the reverse sequence, with each infusion delivered continuously for 14–18 hours and separated by a 6-hour saline washout. The primary outcome was the change in Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores from baseline to the end of each infusion. Overall, the results of the study revealed that both infusions produced measurable reductions in pain, but fentanyl/bupivacaine led to significantly greater improvements than saline for pain at rest and during activity. A notable placebo effect occurred when saline was administered first.