• Alaa Al-Anazi, Lowloa Al-Swaidan, Maha Al-Ammari, Tariq Al-Debasi, Abdulmalik M Alkatheri, Shmeylan Al-Harbi, Aiman A Obaidat, and Abdulkareem M Al-Bekairy.
• Pharmaceutical Care Services, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Saudi J Anaesth. 2017 Oct 1; 11 (4): 437-441.

BackgroundVaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is one of the acute complications of sickle-cell disease (SCD). Treatment mainly relies on hydration and pain control by analgesics. The specific aim of this study was to assess potential health outcomes within the first 72 h of admission between intermittent and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) by opioids among VOC patients.MethodsA retrospective chart review study was conducted to determine SCD patients with VOC. Using the hospital electronic system, the following data were collected: patient's age, gender, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and pain score on admission and daily for 3 days as well as the cumulative opioid analgesic dose for 72 h which is reported as morphine equivalent.ResultsOne hundred and seventeen patients were screened over a period of 5 years. Of those, 99 (84.6%) met the study inclusion criteria, and 18 patients (15.4%) were excluded from the study. During the first 72 h of admission, a significant reduction in pain score was observed in patients on intermittent intravenous (IV) administration compared to those in the PCA group (P < 0.0004) where the mean pain scores were 3 and 5, respectively. The total amount of morphine administered over 72 h of admission was significantly higher in PCA group (777 ± 175 mg) as compared to the intermittent IV administration group (149 ± 74 mg) (P < 0.000003). Clinically significant hypotension or respiratory depression was not observed in both groups over the 72 h of admission.ConclusionDuring the first 72 h of admission, intermittent IV administration of morphine was more effective than PCA infusion in pain control.

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