Patient-controlled Pump Research Articles

Intermittent tramadol vs tramadol administration via patient-controlled pump after lumbar discectomy: a randomized controlled trial

AimTo compare the effect of intermittent tramadol dosing vs tramadol administration via patient-controlled pump on pain after lumbar discectomy.MethodsThis randomized prospective study enrolled 100 patients who underwent elective LIV-LV lumbar discectomy in the neurosurgery department at Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center from May 2016 to July 2017. Patients were randomized to receive either tramadol (600 mg daily) via a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump or intermittently. Pain was evaluated by the Croatian version of Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire.ResultsForty percent of patients were women. The median (interquartile range) age of the patients was 51 (40-61) years. The groups did not differ in pain at 7 pm on the day of discectomy. However, in the morning and evening on the first postoperative day and in the morning and evening of the second postoperative day, the PCA group had significantly lower pain (P = 0.023, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.026, respectively).ConclusionThis is the first study that used the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire to compare the effect of tramadol administration via PCA pump and intermittent administration on pain after LIV-LV discectomy in a neurosurgery department. Tramadol showed a good analgesic efficacy in lumbar spine surgery; tramadol via PCA controlled pain more effectively than intermittently administered tramadol.Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ANZCTR12618001893291.

Prospective randomized appraisal of the best pain relief option after L4/L5 discectomy

ABSTRACT Objectives To determine the efficacy of paracetamol and tramadol analgesia via patient controlled pump and intermittent administration using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire after L4/L5 discectomy in neurosurgical patients. Methods Fourteen months prospective quantitative study with 200 neurosurgical patients’ participation who underwent elective discectomy of the L4/L5 intervertebral disc extrusion. The study was conducted due to a patient-controlled analgesia pump and intermittent analgesia application. Pain was assessed using the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire in the Croatian language during the zero, first, and second postoperative day. Results Perception of pain was reduced in patient controlled analgesia pump groups after the second measurement during the first postoperative day [95% CI: −3.89, −0.76], regardless of administered analgesic (p< 0.001). After the final measurement, at 7 PM on the second postoperative day, the differences were not significant (p= 0.070). This study results are registered and allocated in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). Discussion Analgesia administration via patient-controlled pump contributes to the alleviation of postoperative pain after L4/L5 disc extrusion surgery regardless of administered analgesic.

Network meta-analysis of local and regional analgesia following colorectal resection.

Postoperative pain management after colorectal surgery remains challenging. Systemic opiates delivered on demand or via a patient-controlled pump have traditionally been the mainstay of treatment. Opiate analgesia is associated with slower gastrointestinal recovery and unpleasant side-effects; many regional and local analgesic techniques have been developed as alternatives. MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL databases were searched systematically for RCTs comparing analgesic techniques after major colorectal resection. A network meta-analysis was performed using a Bayesian random-effects framework with a non-informative prior. Primary outcomes included pain at rest and cumulative opiate consumption 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included pain at rest and cumulative opiate consumption at 48 h, pain on movement and cough at 24 and 48 h, time to first stool, time to tolerance of oral diet, duration of hospital stay, nausea and vomiting, and postoperative complications. Seventy-four RCTs, including 5101 patients and 11 different techniques, were included. Some inconsistency and heterogeneity was found. SUCRA scores showed that spinal analgesia was the best intervention for postoperative pain and opiate reduction at 24 h. Transversus abdominus plane blocks were effective in reducing pain and opiate consumption 24 h after surgery. Subgroup analysis showed similar results for open versus minimally invasive surgical approaches, and enhanced recovery after surgery programmes. Spinal analgesia and transversus abdominus plane blocks best balanced pain control and opiate minimization in the immediate postoperative phase following colorectal resection. Multimodal analgesia reduces pain, minimizes systemic opiate use and optimizes postoperative recovery.

Clinical application of intelligent patient-controlled pump for labor analgesia

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of intelligent patient-controlled pump for labor analgesia, and its influence on mothers and neonates. Methods One hundred and twenty primiparas were randomly divided into two groups(n=60), respectively utilizing intelligent(group I) and traditional(group T) patient-controlled pumps to deliver 0.1% ropivacaine plus 0.5 mg/L sufentanil for constant epidural analgesia. Both groups received an initial bolus of 12 ml analgesic solution, and the basic pump settings were 5 ml/h, 5 ml, 15 min for basal infusion rate, bolus dose, and lock time, respectively. In group T, the basic pump settings were used. In group I, the doses of analgesics were adjusted once every hour to meet patients demands for adequate analgesia. The pumps were stopped by the end of the second stage of labor. The follow outcome measures, including the VAS scores before maternal analgesia(T0), 15 min(T1), 30 min (T2), 2 h (T3) after analgesia, the full cervical dilatation(T4), and forced delivery at the second stage of labor(T5), delivery mode, the time of the second stage of labor, total duration of labor, total analgesia time, the usage of analgesics, hourly dosage, local anesthetic background infusion rate at delivery, the number of breakthrough pain, 1 min, 5 min Apgar score of the neonatal, the neonatal weight, side-effects as well as the maternal satisfaction, were recorded. Results We analyzed valid data from 113 parturient women(57 in group I and 56 in group T). Compared with group T, the VAS score at full cervical dilatation and the incidence of breakthrough pain in group I were significantly decreased(P<0.05), the infusion rate of analgesics during forced labor in group I was increased with better analgesia(P<0.05), there was no significant difference between two groups in, the usage of analgesics, the duration of labor, the mode of delivery, the condition of neonates, and the incidence of side-effects as well. Conclusions The intelligent patient-controlled analgesia pump is effective for labor analgesia. It lowers incidence of breakthrough pain and improves maternal satisfaction without increasing the dosage of analgesics and the risk of side-effects. Key words: Analgesia, obstetrical; The intelligent patient controlled analgesia pump; Patient controlled analgesia

A placebo-controlled trial of midazolam as an adjunct to morphine patient-controlled analgesia after spinal surgery

Study ObjectiveTo investigate the potential benefit of postoperatively providing a patient-controlled anxiolytic agent, midazolam, in addition to morphine. DesignA double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of patient-controlled midazolam. SettingA Community hospital. Participants29 patients undergoing elective spinal surgery. InterventionsPostoperatively, via two separate patient-controlled pumps, the treatment group received morphine and midazolam, and the control group received morphine and saline solution. MeasurementsRepeated measures using numerical rating scales of the primary outcomes of pain and anxiety were obtained every two hours postoperatively. Amount of morphine and midazolam/placebo administered was assessed, as were other secondary outcomes. Main ResultsAnxiety level in the treatment group declined more rapidly over the 24 hours after surgery than in the control group. The treatment group used less morphine than the control. Preoperative positive affect was the only significant psychological predictor of postoperative outcomes. ConclusionsPatients who received both midazolam and morphine experienced a more rapid decline in anxiety and used less opioid medication than those receiving morphine alone.

Meaningful Improvement in Perioperative Pain Control After Lumbar Surgery

As in other types of major musculoskeletal surgery, pain control following lumbar decompression and arthrodesis can be challenging. Parenteral narcotics, usually with a patient-controlled pump, remain the mainstay. While effective for most patients, there are substantial problems with this modality, including respiratory depression, nausea, emesis, and pruritus. Some patients, particularly those who are not opioid naive, have perioperative pain that is refractory to narcotic analgesia. There is long-standing interest in techniques to reduce our dependence on opioids. The report by Hyun Kang et al. is one of the latest in a long line of studies examining regional blocks to reduce the need for parenteral narcotics. This study has many strengths. It is randomized, double-blinded, prospective, and controlled. All patients had the same surgical procedures at the same institution, minimizing variation in the amount of surgical trauma. The study and control groups were statistically equivalent. The investigators demonstrated that a single dose of epidural ropivacaine reduced pain scores and fentanyl consumption two to twelve hours following surgery. The number of button pushes to deliver fentanyl was decreased at all but one time point up to forty-eight hours postoperatively. However, there was no difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative nausea and emesis, the length of hospitalization, or patient satisfaction. It should be noted that the study design was powered to discern the 2-point difference in pain at four hours. The study may be underpowered concerning these secondary but interesting parameters. …

Comparison of Extent of Sensory Block following Posterior and Subcostal Approaches to Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block

Transversus abdominis plane block provides postoperative analgesia following abdominal surgery by targeting thoracolumbar nerves between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles. Posterior and subcostal approaches using ultrasound guidance have been described. However there have been inconsistent results in relation to the extent of the sensory block. This observational study evaluated the distributions of sensory block following either a posterior or subcostal approach and the quality of analgesia achieved. Following ethics committee approval, 50 patients undergoing minimally invasive and major abdominal surgery were recruited. A total of 81 transversus abdominis plane blocks were performed preoperatively under real-time ultrasound guidance. Postoperatively, patients received multimodal analgesia including morphine via patient-controlled pumps. Ninety-eight percent of patients had some degree of demonstrable sensory block and the dermatomal spread differed between posterior and subcostal approaches (P < 0.001). The posterior approach produced a median sensory block of three dermatomal segments (interquartile range 2 to 4), the most cephalad being T10 (interquartile range T9 to T10), while the subcostal approach blocked a median of four segments (interquartile range 3 to 5), the most cephalad being T8 (interquartile range T7 to T9, P < 0.001). Maximum dermatomal block distribution was observed at 30 minutes and usually regressed by 24 hours. Median cumulative morphine consumption was 40.8 mg (interquartile range 17 to 50 mg) at 24 hours. Median pain scores at rest and with coughing were 20 (interquartile range 10 to 35) and 50 (interquartile range 29 to 67) respectively at 24 hours. The posterior approach appears to be more appropriate for lower abdominal surgery and the subcostal approach better suited to upper abdominal surgery. Whichever approach is used, transversus abdominis plane block is only one component of a multimodal analgesic technique.

Epidural Analgesia in the Latent Phase of Labor and the Risk of Cesarean Delivery

The optimal timing of epidural analgesia has been a controversial issue, and how early women can benefit from epidural analgesia is still debated. The objective of this trial was to test the hypothesis that patient-controlled epidural analgesia given at cervical dilation of 1.0 cm or more does not increase the risk of prolonged labor or Cesarean delivery. After institutional review board approval and patient consent, 12,793 nulliparous patients requesting neuraxial analgesia were enrolled and randomized to an early epidural (cervical dilation at least 1.0 cm) or delayed epidural (cervical dilation at least 4.0 cm) group. A 15-ml epidural analgesic mixture consisting of 0.125% (1.25 mg/ml) ropivacaine plus 0.3 microg/ml sufentanil was given in a single bolus, followed by patient-controlled pump with a 10-ml bolus without background infusion. Repeatable meperidine (25 mg) was prescribed as being the rescue analgesic to patients in the delayed epidural group. The primary outcome was the rate of Cesarean section. The median diameters of cervical dilation were 1.6 cm and 5.1 cm in the early and delayed epidural groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). The duration of labor from analgesia request to vaginal delivery was equal in both groups (11.3 +/- 4.5 h for early epidural and 11.8 +/- 4.9 h for delayed epidural group women, P = 0.90). No statistically significant difference in the rate of Cesarean section was observed between the two groups on the intention-to-treat analysis (23.2% vs. 22.8% in the early and delayed epidural groups, respectively; P = 0.51). Epidural analgesia in the latent phase of labor at cervical dilation of 1.0 cm or more does not prolong the progression of labor and does not increase the rate of Cesarean in nulliparous women compared with the delayed analgesia at the cervical dilation of 4.0 cm or more.

Corrections: “Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of Local Anesthetic Infusion and Intravenous Narcotic Patient-Controlled Anesthesia Pump for Pain Management after Free TRAM Flap Breast Reconstruction: Are We on the Right Track?” and “Povidone-Iodine versus Chlorhexidine in Skin Antisepsis before Elective Plastic Surgery Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Is Statistical Correctness Always Pursued?”

Corrections: “Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of Local Anesthetic Infusion and Intravenous Narcotic Patient-Controlled Anesthesia Pump for Pain Management after Free TRAM Flap Breast Reconstruction: Are We on the Right Track?” and “Povidone-Iodine versus Chlorhexidine in Skin Antisepsis before Elective Plastic Surgery Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Is Statistical Correctness Always Pursued?”

Can facet joint infiltrative analgesia reduce postoperative pain in degenerative lumbar disc surgery?

Perioperative analgesia effects the postoperative course of pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its possible relation with the consumption of dolantine and analgesics and the facet-induced pain and postoperative pain score in degenerative disc surgery. We employed perioperative intra- and perifacet bupivacaine infiltration technique to reduce the postoperative pain after lumbar disc surgery. The study was randomized and observer blinded enrolling 40 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I-II patients scheduled for elective degenerative lumbar disc surgery. The patients were divided into two groups of 20 of which Group 1 underwent injection of bupivacaine into the subcutaneous and muscular layers around the incision site, while Group 2 underwent additional intra- and perifacetal joint infiltration. Postoperatively, the patients were provided with a programmed patient-controlled pump which was only activated on demand to infuse dolantine for the next 24 hours. In the postanesthesia care unit the delay for analgesia and the dose of dolantine used were recorded. There was no statistical significance between these two groups regarding postoperative visual analoque scale scores. The time before the first analgesic request was significantly longer in facet group (p= 0,006). The cumulative dolantine dose was also significantly lower in the facet group (p= 0,001). The results indicate that facet joint infiltrative analgesia may have an effect on the postoperative analgesic requirement and reduce the dolantine consumption.

Using system analysis to build a safety culture: improving the reliability of epidural analgesia

A potentially dangerous situation was revealed by an incident report describing the use of an inappropriate device to administer post-operative epidural analgesia to a patient on a surgical ward. The incident occurred in a 1200-bed university affiliated tertiary hospital (Geneva University Hospitals, HUG) and involved three clinical departments: anaesthesiology, the surgical intensive care unit and urology. A multidisciplinary system analysis was carried out to identify care-delivery problems and contributory factors. Corrective actions were devised on the basis of their ability to prevent and absorb unsafe situations. The system analysis identified three care-delivery problems in relation to the management of epidural analgesia. It enabled medical and nursing managers to adopt an interdepartmental set of corrective actions: a common protocol for post-operative epidural analgesia, leading to the exclusive use of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) pumps; greater availability of the patient-controlled pumps; the dissemination of guidelines; permanent proactive training of nurses by the acute-pain team; the clarification of medical responsibilities; and a common help-line phone number for all surgical departments. The analysis provided a convincing exposure of various care-delivery problems and their corresponding contributory factors, as well as an opportunity to address a systemic issue in a multidisciplinary way. By thus facilitating decisions and corrective actions, the analysis was instrumental in strengthening our safety culture.

Preoperative Gabapentin Decreases Anxiety and Improves Early Functional Recovery from Knee Surgery

Gabapentin has antihyperalgesic and anxiolytic properties. We thus tested the hypothesis that premedication with gabapentin would decrease preoperative anxiety and improve postoperative analgesia and early postoperative knee mobilization in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament repair under general anesthesia. Forty patients were randomly assigned to receive 1200 mg oral gabapentin or placebo 1-2 h before surgery; anesthesia was standardized. Patients received morphine, 0.1 mg/kg, 30 min before the end of surgery and postoperatively via a patient-controlled pump. Pain scores and morphine consumption were recorded over 48 h. Degrees of active and passive knee flexion and extension were recorded during physiotherapy on days 1 and 2. Preoperative anxiety scores were less in the gabapentin than control group (visual analog scale scores of 28 +/- 16 mm versus 66 +/- 15 mm, respectively; P < 0.001). The gabapentin group required less morphine than the control group (29 +/- 22 mg versus 69 +/- 40 mg, respectively; P < 0.001). Visual analog scale pain scores at rest and after mobilization were significantly reduced in the gabapentin group. First and maximal passive and active knee flexions at 24 and 48 h were significantly more extensive in the gabapentin than in the control group. In conclusion, premedication with 1200 mg gabapentin improved preoperative anxiolysis, postoperative analgesia, and early knee mobilization after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament repair.

Peroperative depth of anaesthesia may influence postoperative opioid requirements

Studies on monitoring the depth of anaesthesia have shown that with the use of these monitors the peroperative consumption of anaesthetics can be reduced. Studies have also indicated that the peroperative depth of anaesthesia may affect the postoperative course. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a possible relation between the depths of anaesthesia and the postoperative pain score and consumption of morphine. We used middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEPs) for monitoring the depth of anaesthesia. The study was prospective, observer blinded and included 50 women scheduled for elective abdominal hysterectomy. Anaesthesia was induced using propofol and remifentanil. Before leaving the recovery room the patients were provided with a programmed patient-controlled pump (PCA), which was only activated on demand. Auditory evoked potentials were registered from just before induction of anaesthesia and during the whole procedure, but the anaesthetist did not have access to the monitor. Fifty patients were included and seven were excluded. The remaining 43 patients were divided into two groups: Group High (n=12) with an AAI>28 for >5% of the registration time and Group Low (n=31) with an AAI>28 for <5% of the registration time. Group High had significantly higher morphine requirements in the recovery and activated the PCA-pump more frequently during the first 24 postoperative hours. The results indicate that the peroperative depth of anaesthesia may have effects on the postoperative analgesic requirements.

Pain intensity after laseruvulopalatoplasty and tonsillectomy.

The first objective of this study was to evaluate pain intensity and opioid consumption during the first 24 hours after uvulopalatoplasty and tonsillectomy in the hospital, and the second was to evaluate pain intensity and its progression during the first 2 weeks after surgery at home. In a prospective parallel group study, 51 patients with uvulopalatoplasty or tonsillectomy were studied. Ketoprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, and fentanyl citrate, an opioid, were used as analgesics. Despite ketoprofen infusion and free access to a patient-controlled pump with fentanyl citrate for rescue analgesia, inadequate pain relief was common both after uvulopalatoplasty (35%) and after tonsillectomy (28%) during the first 24 hours after surgery. The consumption of fentanyl citrate was similar after both operations. At home, pain intensity was highest in the mornings during the first 5 days, and 10 patients had some pain still after 2 weeks. Also at home, high pain scores were reported commonly in both groups. Significant pain after uvulopalatoplasty and tonsillectomy lasted for several days. Ketoprofen in the commercial capsule form proved to be too short acting for overnight pain relief. Pain treatment in patients with uvulopalatoplasty and tonsillectomy should be improved to allow patients a peaceful recovery after surgery.

Delivery rate accuracy of portable, bolus-capable infusion pumps used for patient-controlled continuous regional analgesia

Background and Objectives: Portable patient-controlled pumps used for perineural local anesthetic infusion appear to be gaining acceptance and are used for an increasing number of medically unsupervised ambulatory patients. The infusion rate accuracy and reliability of these pumps, which allow patient-controlled boluses of potentially toxic medication, has not been independently investigated. We performed this laboratory study to define the flow-rate accuracy, reliability, and profiles of various portable bolus-capable infusion pumps and varied several factors that may influence pump performance. Methods: Using a computer/scale combination, 4 electronic pumps were tested with 1 and 2 sets of batteries over 100 hours. One elastomeric pump was tested with its flow-regulator at room temperature (20°C to 24°C), skin temperature (32°C), and increased temperature (36°C). The elastomeric pump was also tested by varying the height of the pump relative to the distal end of the catheter. Results: Infusion rate accuracy differed significantly among the pumps, exhibiting flow rates within ±15% of their expected rate for 29% to 100% of their infusion duration. Changing the batteries after 50 hours affected the profile of 1 of the 4 electronic pumps. For the elastomeric pump, an increase in temperature significantly increased the infusion rate. An increase or decrease in pump-to-scale height significantly increased or decreased the infusion rate, respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that factors such as flow-rate accuracy and consistency, infusion profile, and temperature sensitivity should be taken into consideration when choosing a portable infusion pump for local anesthetic administration. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2003;28:17-23.

Patient-controlled sedation versus intravenous sedation for colonoscopy in elderly patients: A prospective randomized controlled trial

Background: A prospective randomized trial was conducted to compare the safety, effectiveness, and patient acceptance of patient-controlled sedation and intravenous sedation for colonoscopy in a group of elderly patients undergoing outpatient colonoscopy. Methods: One hundred patients over 65 years of age were recruited and randomized to patient-controlled sedation (n = 50) or intravenous sedation (n = 50) groups by means of computer-generated numbers. In the patient-controlled sedation group, a mixture of propofol and alfentanil was delivered by means of a patient-controlled pump; each bolus delivered 4.8 mg propofol and 12 μg alfentanil. No loading dose was used and the lockout time was set at zero. In the intravenous sedation group, fixed doses of diazemuls (0.1 mg/kg) and meperidine (0.5 mg/kg) were given with further increases in dosages administered at the discretion of the endoscopist. Outcome measures assessed included cardiopulmonary complications, recovery time, pain score, and satisfaction score. Results: The mean (SD) age of patients in the patient-controlled sedation and intravenous sedation groups were, respectively, 72.4 years (5.3) and 73.5 years (6.1). The mean dose of propofol consumed in the patient-controlled sedation group was 0.79 (0.46) mg/kg. The mean doses of diazemuls and meperidine consumed in intravenous sedation group were, respectively, 5.8 (1.3) mg and 30.1 (6.8) mg. Hypotension occurred in 2 (4%) patients in the patient-controlled sedation group and 14 (28%) in the intravenous sedation group ( p < 0.01). Oxygen desaturation was recorded for 4 patients (8%) in the intravenous sedation group. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) recovery time was significantly shorter in the patient-controlled sedation group compared with the intravenous sedation group (respectively, 0 minutes [IQR 0-5] vs. 5 minutes [IQR 5-10]; p < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between groups for pain and satisfaction scores. Conclusions: Patient-controlled sedation appears to be safer than intravenous sedation, with comparable effectiveness and acceptance, in elderly patients undergoing elective outpatient colonoscopy. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;56:629-32.)

Postoperative analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery: A randomized, prospective, double-blind study of intravenous regional analgesia versus intra-articular analgesia

The aim of this study was to determine the quality of postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery using preoperative intravenous regional analgesia. After initial consultation with a statistician, we allocated 36 patients randomly and double-blind to 1 of 3 groups. Group A received intravenous regional analgesia preoperatively, group B received standard postperative intra-articular analgesia, and group C received saline and acted as the placebo. Our results showed no statistically significant difference in pain levels between the groups. However, there was a significantly larger amount of morphine administered by patient-controlled pumps in the placebo group when compared with the 2 treatment groups. There was no such difference between the 2 treatment groups. We concluded that preoperative regional analgesia in this setting is as good as but no better than intra-articular analgesia and that neither technique has any advantages over diclofenac plus patient-controlled analgesia.

Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Trial of Epidural Versus Patient-Controlled Meperidine Analgesia During Labor

BACKGROUND Reports indicate that the administration of epidural analgesia for pain relief during labor interferes with labor and increases cesarean deliveries. However, only a few controlled trials have assessed the effect of epidural analgesia on the incidence of cesarean delivery. The authors' primary purpose in this randomized study was to evaluate the effects of epidural analgesia on the rate of cesarean deliveries by providing a suitable alternative: patient-controlled intravenous analgesia. METHODS Seven hundred fifteen women of mixed parity in spontaneous labor at full term were randomly assigned to receive either epidural analgesia or patient-controlled intravenous meperidine analgesia. Epidural analgesia was maintained with a continuous epidural infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine with 2 microg/ml fentanyl. Patient-controlled analgesia was maintained with 10-15 mg meperidine given every 10 min as needed using a patient-controlled pump. Procedures recorded in a manual that prescribed the intrapartum management were followed for each woman randomized in the study. RESULTS A total of 358 women were randomized to receive epidural analgesia, and 243 (68%) of these women complied with the epidural analgesia protocol. Similarly, 357 women were randomized to receive patient-controlled intravenous meperidine analgesia, and 259 (73%) of these women complied with the patient-controlled intravenous analgesia protocol. Only five women who were randomized and received patient-controlled intravenous meperidine analgesia according to the protocol crossed over to epidural analgesia due to inadequate pain relief. There was no difference in the rate of cesarean deliveries between the two analgesia groups using intention-to-treat analysis based on the original randomization (epidural analgesia, 4% [95% CI: 1.9-6.2%] compared with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia, 5% [95% CI: 2.6-7.2%]). Similar results were observed for the analysis of the protocol-compliant groups (epidural analgesia, 5% [95% CI: 2.6-8.5%] compared with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia, 6% [95% CI: 3-8.9%]). Women who received epidural analgesia reported lower pain scores during labor and delivery compared with women who received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia. CONCLUSIONS Epidural analgesia was not associated with increased numbers of cesarean delivery when compared with a suitable alternative method of analgesia.

Cesarean Delivery

Sharma, Shiv K.; Sidawi, J. Elaine; Ramin, Susan M.; Lucas, Michael J.; Leveno, Kenneth J.; Cunningham, F. Gary Author Information

Comparison of patient-controlled and nurse-controlled antiemetic therapy in patients receiving chemotherapy

The purpose of this quasi-experimental pilot study was to compare the effect of patient-controlled (PCAE) and nurse administered (NCAE) antiemetic therapy for controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving moderate emetogenic chemotherapy. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to either the PCAE group who received IV antiemetic medication via a patient-controlled pump or the NCAE group who received antiemetic medication via nurse administered minibags. Nausea, vomiting, sedation, and drug consumption were measured. There was no difference in nausea scores between the two groups. Subjects in the PCAE group consumed significantly less medication than subjects in the NCAE group.