Study: NCT00681174

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Morphine
Description: 0.15 mg/kg i.v. bolus, 30 minutes before the expected end of anesthesia

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: EXPERIMENTAL
Intervention: oxycodone
Description: 20 mg p.o. 1 h before the start of anesthesia

Intervention type: PROCEDURE
Group type: EXPERIMENTAL
Intervention: Paravertebral block
Description: * Three injections of 0.5% ropivacaine, 5 ml each~* Injections at the T5, T6 and T7 levels~A 22G spinal needle will be used to contact the ipsilateral transverse process; the needle will be walked off the process and the injection will be made 1 cm deeper.

Intervention type: PROCEDURE
Group type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Paravertebral block
Description: * Three injections of 0.5% ropivacaine, 5 ml each~* Injections at the T5, T6 and T7 levels~A 22G spinal needle will be used to contact the ipsilateral transverse process; the needle will be walked off the process and the injection will be made 1 cm deeper.

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: EXPERIMENTAL
Intervention: Propofol
Description: * Plasma concentration target-controlled infusion based on bispectral index values~* Acceptable range of concentrations: 2-4 µg/mL~* Target bispectral index values: 40-60~* Infusion starts at 4 µg/ml target, after pre-oxygenation (i.e., start of anesthesia)

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Propofol
Description: * Plasma concentration target-controlled infusion based on bispectral index values~* Acceptable range of concentrations: 2-4 µg/mL~* Target bispectral index values: 40-60~* Infusion starts at 4 µg/ml target, after pre-oxygenation (i.e., start of anesthesia)

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: EXPERIMENTAL
Intervention: Remifentanil
Description: * 50 µg/mL i.v. solution infused at 0.05-0.2 µg/kg/min~* Infusion starts 7 min before propofol infusion (i.e., start of anesthesia)~* Infusion rate adjusted to maintain mean arterial blood pressure within ±20% of baseline values.~* Infusion stopped after end of surgery and after patients are brought back to the supine position (i.e., end of anesthesia)

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Remifentanil
Description: * 50 µg/mL i.v. solution infused at 0.05-0.2 µg/kg/min~* Infusion starts 7 min before propofol infusion (i.e., start of anesthesia)~* Infusion rate adjusted to maintain mean arterial blood pressure within ±20% of baseline values.~* Infusion stopped after end of surgery and after patients are brought back to the supine position (i.e., end of anesthesia)

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: EXPERIMENTAL
Intervention: Paracetamol
Description: 1 g i.v. bolus 30 min before the end of anesthesia; 1 g i.v. bolus q8h thereafter.

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Paracetamol
Description: 1 g i.v. bolus 30 min before the end of anesthesia; 1 g i.v. bolus q8h thereafter.

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: EXPERIMENTAL
Intervention: Morphine
Description: Patient-controlled intravenous infusion pump (IV-PCA).~* 50 mg morphine in 50 ml saline solution (1 mg/ml)~* Incremental dose: 1 mg~* Lock-out time: 8 min~* Limit: 40 mg in 4 h~* Background infusion: none

Intervention type: DRUG
Group type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Morphine
Description: Patient-controlled intravenous infusion pump (IV-PCA).~* 50 mg morphine in 50 ml saline solution (1 mg/ml)~* Incremental dose: 1 mg~* Lock-out time: 8 min~* Limit: 40 mg in 4 h~* Background infusion: none