Comparison of Adjuvant Hypertonic Saline and Normal Saline for Epidural Block in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Double-Blind, Randomized Trial

Table 5

Changes in the estimated global perceived effect of satisfaction after epidural block with or without hypertonic saline in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.

Variable	Time	Groups		Differences^a	value
		Normal saline (N = 17)	Hypertonic saline (N = 19)
GPES	1 month	3.9 (3.2–4.6)	4.2 (3.6–4.8)	0.3 (−0.7–1.2)	0.559
	3 months	3.8 (3.1–4.5)	4.5 (3.8–5.1)	0.6 (−0.3–1.6)	0.186

The global perceived effect of satisfaction (GPES) was measured after epidural block in both groups. A mixed linear model was used in the statistical analysis. The data are presented as the estimated mean with a 95% confidence interval. The group difference was not significant ( = 0.657). The time effect was not significant ( = 0.272). The P values of interaction between the group and time were not significant ( = 0.495). ^aEstimated difference in values between groups.