Roux-In-Y Gastrojejunal Bypass: Which Anesthetic Technique Has Best Results?

Background: As the number of bariatric operations increases, there is a greater interest in knowledge, experience and skills in the operative and anesthetic management of obese people. Anesthetic recovery is an important point in the therapeutic approach and less adverse effects delaying discharge of these patients are necessary to be kept in mind by the surgical team. Aim: To compare anesthetic-analgesic techniques in the opioid-sparing era through epidural administration of local anesthetic associated with low-dose morphine vs. clonidine and analyze the impact of analgesia on the effectiveness of postoperative recovery by comparing these two techniques. Methods: Randomized, double-blind clinical trial with 66 patients candidates for Roux-en-Y gastrojejunal bypass divided into two groups: morphine group and clonidine group. Multimodal analgesia included epidural anesthesia with 0.375% ropivacaine 20 ml at the eighth thoracic vertebra with the association of morphine (morphine group) at a dose of 15 mcg / kg or clonidine (clonidine group) at a dose of 1 mcg / kg. Results: The groups were homogeneous and statistical significance was found when analyzing the difference in pain between them in the first postoperative period. The pain was higher in the clonidine group, as in this period, analgesic rescue was also better in this group. In the other times, there was no significance in the differences regarding pain and rescue. The return of intestinal motility in the morphine group was earlier in the first postoperative period. Nausea, vomiting and hospital discharge did not show significant differences between groups. Conclusion: Epidural anesthesia with low-dose morphine allowed less pain during the entire hospital stay, with a positive impact on patient recovery.