• Madeleine Courtney-Brooks, Kirby C Tanner Kurtz, Elizabeth B Pelkofski, John Nakayama, and Linda R Duska.
• Thornton Gynecology Oncology Service, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. Electronic address: courtneybrooksmb@upmc.edu.
• Gynecol. Oncol. 2015 Jan 1; 136 (1): 77-81.

ObjectiveThere is a lack of consistent data regarding gynecologic oncology (GO) patients and the use of neuraxial anesthesia for post-operative pain management. Our objective was to compare the use of continuous epidural infusion (CEI) as part of post-operative pain management to more traditional management schemes.MethodsGO patients undergoing laparotomy from July 1st, 2011 through July 31st, 2012 were identified. Patient demographic data and peri-operative details were abstracted from the medical record. The primary outcome was a mean patient visual analog pain score. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, post-operative urinary tract infection (UTI) and venous thromboembolic (VTE) events.ResultsThere were 237 laparotomies during the study time period. Fifty-six women had CEI for post-operative pain management and 181 did not. Patients with CEI had lower pain scores on POD #0 (3.8 vs 5.3, p < 0.01), #1 (2.6 vs 4.0, p < 0.01) and #2 (2.5 vs 3.5, p < 0.01) compared to women without CEI. There was no difference in the length of stay between those with and without CEI (103 vs 94 h, p = 0.32). Women with CEI did have a longer length of urinary catheterization (56 vs 26 h, p = 0.01) but not an increased rate of UTI (5.5% vs 1.8%, p = 0.24). There was a higher rate of post-operative VTE events among women with CEI (8.9% vs 1.7%, p = 0.02).ConclusionsIn this small series, GO patients undergoing laparotomy had improved post-operative pain control when their analgesia regimen included CEI. However, the higher rate of VTE events among CEI users is concerning and merits further investigation.Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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