Epidural Versus Intravenous Fentanyl for Reducing Hormonal, Metabolic, and Physiologic Responses after Thoracotomy

Abstract

The authors' results indicate that some aspects of the hormonal response to surgery are blocked more completely with epidural than with intravenous fentanyl. Adequate pain relief with epidural fentanyl, with a smaller mean dose, led to a smaller increase of some hormonal, metabolic, and physiologic responses after thoracotomy than in association with the adequate pain relief provided by intravenous fentanyl.