Document Classification

Section Type: METHODS

Text: Following completion of surgery performed using epidural anesthesia with 2 % lidocaine and i. v sedation, patients were assigned to one of three treatment groups : Group 1-epidural PCA (EPCA) with sufentanil : 0. 3 microgram/kg bolus followed by 8 micrograms/hr infusion plus epidural PCA boluses of 4 micrograms every 6 min as needed ; Group 2-i. v. PCA with sufentanil : 0. 3 microgram/kg bolus followed by 8 micrograms/hr infusion plus IV PCA boluses of 4 micrograms every 6 min as needed ; or Group 3-i. v. PCA with morphine : 0. 1 mg/kg bolus followed by 0. 5 mg/hr infusion plus i. v. PCA boluses of 1 mg every 6 min as needed.