A pilot study comparing pain intensity before and after conversion from patient controlled analgesia (PCA) to oral or transdermal extended-release opioids

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to compare patients' self-reported pain intensity, level of satisfaction with their pain control, and side effects (drowsiness, pruritis, urinary retention, nausea and vomiting) before and after conversion from IV PCA to oral or transdermal extended-release opioids using a novel approach of initiating the oral or transdermal opioid prior to discontinuation of the PCA. Additionally, we collected the number of supplemental analgesic rescue doses required and opioid dose before and after conversion, as secondary endpoints.