Retrospective Assessment Of Postoperative Pain Control With Intravenous Or Epidural Patient-Controlled Analgesia After Orthopedic, General And Plastic Surgery

Aim: Patient-controlled analgesia methods are more effective than conventional analgesia methods for the management of postoperative pain. Patient-controlled analgesia is often preferred as it has less sedative effect, minimum complications, high patient satisfaction and has positive effects on the healing process of patients. The aim of this study was to research patientcontrolled analgesia methods that were used for postoperative pain control in a training and research hospital. Material And Methods: Retrospectively we reviewed the records of patients who were ASA physical status I-II-III, older than 18 years and underwent procedures for orthopedic surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery, ear, nose and throat surgery, chest surgery, urology, hand surgery or plastic surgery in Numune Training and Research Hospital. Results: A total of 449 patients were administered patient-controlled analgesia in Numune Training and Research Hospital. 67% of patients were administered patient controlled analgesia via epidural vs. 33% of patients administered patient controlled analgesia via intravenous route. Patients' age gender, ASA class, primary disease requiring surgery, method of surgery, duration of surgery, anesthetic technique, drugs used for postoperative analgesia, the amount of analgesic drug consumption, the time to administration of analgesic drug, VAS scores at bolus time, the postoperative analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, side effects, and patient satisfaction level were evaluated. Conclusions: As a result of the study on 449 patients administered patient-controlled analgesia in Numune Training and Research Hospital between April 2011 and December 2011, the administration of patient controlled analgesia via epidural was preferred over than the administration of patient controlled analgesia via intravenous route.