What drugs are used in a surgical epidural?

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I'm scheduled for TAH BSO and want to have an epidural. I know that pain meds are given through the epidural immediately after surgery, but what drugs are actually used in the epidural during surgery?

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Fentyal (sp), that is the only med that our hospital uses, I'm not sure what other drugs can or are used.

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Isn't Fentanyl a member of the same family as morphine?

Fentyal (sp), that is the only med that our hospital uses, I'm not sure what other drugs can or are used.
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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

no it is not and it is much stronger.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

We also use bupivicaine - usually with the fentanyl, but sometimes without. The bupivicaine (or equivalant) is the numbing portion of the epidural. Yes, fentanyl is an opioid, like morphine. But about 100 times stronger.

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Specializes in surgical, ortho.

We also have sufenta in with the bupivicaine. However, due to the problems that can be seen with epidurals, our docs like PCA's better. I just had the same surgery done 3 weeks ago and I had a dilaudid pca. I did fine. Good luck to you.

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Hi butterflynurse03, and thanks for your response. I'm talking about epidural anesthesia during the surgery. I'm planning for IV Toradol and ON Q for afterwards - I can't do morphine or codeine or any derivative.

We also have sufenta in with the bupivicaine. However, due to the problems that can be seen with epidurals, our docs like PCA's better. I just had the same surgery done 3 weeks ago and I had a dilaudid pca. I did fine. Good luck to you.
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Specializes in surgical, ortho.

The ON-Q pain pumps are nice. I have had several patients that have had them with great success. Even a patient with a pulmonary lobectomy. You are not allergic to marcaine are you? Because that is the type of medication that is found in the ON-Q. Good luck with it and feel free to privately im me if you need.

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To the OP's question. Epidurals during surgery usually have a combination of bupivicaine and fentanyl, which both numbs and relieves pain. During surgery we can choose not to run the epidural and use anesthetic gases, IV narcotics, and muscle relaxants to maintain anesthesia. At the end of surgery we can bolus the epidural or start it running so that when you wake up the epidural will be functioning. The other way we do it is by running the epidural intraoperatively and still using anesthetic gases, but less etc. It really depends on how you look during surgery, expected blood loss, co-existing diseases, etc. Epidurals are a good choice for postop pain, good luck, and make sure you discuss your options with your anesthesia provider.

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