Sleep
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Postoperative sleep disturbance: influences of opioids and pain in humans.
To test the hypothesis that opioids and pain contribute independently to postoperative sleep disturbance, 10 women undergoing surgery requiring a low abdominal incision for treatment of benign gynecologic conditions were randomized to receive either epidural opioid (fentanyl) (n=6) or epidural local anesthetic (bupivacaine) (n=4) for intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. ⋯ Postoperative patients suffer a profound sleep disturbance even when opioids are avoided and pain is well controlled.