Request for Funding

Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2001

Mentor: Dr. Paige Latham

Department: Anesthesiology and Pain Management

Room number: CS02.606

Mail Code: 9068

Phone number: 214-648-7834

E-mail: paige.latham@utsouthwestern.edu

Project title: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a local anesthetic infusion system for postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 1200-574

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): n/a

Project Type: patient-based research

Brief Description of Project:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of continuous administration of local anesthetic (bupivacaine) at the surgical incision via a pain control catheter infusion system in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery.

45 adult patients (.18 and ,85 yr, ASA I-III) will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Grooup 1: placebo (0.9 NaCl) at a rate of 4ml/hour; or Group 2: 0.25% bupivacaine at a rate of 4ml/hour.

Postoperative pain intensities will be evaluated at 2, 4, 24, and 48 hours after tracheal extubation using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and descriptive (verbal) scales. It will also be recorded, the amount of intravenous and oral opioid medications required by patients while in the hospital, the length of their ICU stay, the time from arrival in the ICU until tracheal extubation, time to ambulation, and their overall length of hospital admission. Patients will also be asked to rate their overall satisfaction level with surgical experience.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

1. Wong JK, Tongier WK, Armbruster SC, White PF. Use of intubating mask airway to facilitate awake orotracheal intubation in patients with cervical spine disorders. J Clin Anesth 1999; 11: 346-8.

2. Zarate E, Watcha MF, White PF, Klein KW, Sa Rego M, Stewart DG. A comparison of the costs and efficacy of ondansetron versus dolasetron for antiemetic prophylaxis. Anesth Analg 2000; 90: 1352-8.

3. Shao X, Li H, White PF, Klein KW, Kulstad C, Owens A. Bisulfite-containing propofol: is it a cost-effective alternative to Diprivan for induction of anesthesia? Anesth Analg 2000; 91: 871-5.

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