Analgesic Efficacy of Free-opioid Anesthesia for Colorectal Surgery

Objectives: To compare free-opioid anesthesia (the combination of epidural anesthesia, intravenous lidocaine, ketamine, propofol, and sevoflurane) and opioid anesthesia (fentanyl, propofol and sevoflurane) regarding intraoperative analgesic efficacy in colectomies and rectal resections at Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital.
Methods: A prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on 98 patients who were anesthetized for colorectal surgery from December 2019 to November 2021. Patients were randomized into 2 groups: Group OA - Opioid anesthesia (n = 49): Intraoperative pain control by fentanyl; FOA group - Free-opioid anesthesia (n = 49): Intraoperative pain control by continuous infusion of lidocaine, bolus doses of ketamine combined with epidural levobupivacaine.