Immediate and prolonged effects of pre- versus postoperative epidural analgesia with bupivacaine and morphine on pain at rest and during mobilisation after total knee arthroplasty

Thirty-two patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty were randomized to receive an identical epidural blockade initiated 30 min before surgical incision (N = 16), or at closure of the surgical wound (N = 16). Before induction of general anaesthesia the epidural catheter was tested with bupivacaine 7.5 mg.ml-1, 2 ml. General anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone, pancuronium or atracurium, and fentanyl 0.1-0.3 mg, and maintained with...