Treatment of ischemic pain in patients suffering from peripheral vasculopathy with transdermal buprenorphine plus epidural morphine with ropivacaine vs. epidural morphine with ropivacaine.

AIM: This study compared the efficacy and safety of buprenorphine transdermal delivery system with peridural infusion of morphine and ropivacaine to peridural infusion alone for the control of ischemic pain in patients suffering from peripheral vasculopathy.

METHODS: Eighty-six patients were randomized into two groups. In the first group, a buprenorphine patch 35 microg/hour TTDS (transtec transdermal device plus ropivacaine and morphine) was applied, and a peridural infusion of ropivacaine/morphine (200 mg + 2 mg) was established. In the second group, ropivacaine and morphine analgesia was obtained using a peridural infusion and a placebo patch. The primary efficacy parameter was the visual analog scale score for pain. Secondary parameters of efficacy were the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire scores and a score for pain interference with sleep obtained from patient diaries evaluated every week for a period of 4 weeks.

RESULTS: Subjects in the TTDS group reported a reduction in pain, increased sleep, and a lower incidence of side effects compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION: Transdermal buprenorphine use resulted in significant pain relief with excellent patient satisfaction, which may translate into improvement in mood and quality of life.