Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of postoperative analgesic effect of tramadol and bupivacaine subcutaneous infiltration in patients undergoing cesarean section.
Cesarean section is associated with significant postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tramadol versus bupivacaine administration at wound closure on postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing cesarean section. Sixty women undergoing cesarean deliveries were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mL of bupivacaine 0.5% (n = 30) or 50 mg of tramadol in 10 mL of normal saline (n = 30), both as local wound infiltration prior to skin closure at the end of operation. ⋯ Postoperative consumption of analgesic was higher in bupivacaine group than tramadol group but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05; Fisher exact test). No side effects were reported in either group. This study showed that subcutaneous administration of tramadol provided analgesic effect equal to bupivacaine with longer pain relief after cesarean section.
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Acta clinica Croatica · Mar 2013
Access to public healthcare services and waiting times for patients with chronic nonmalignant pain: feedback from a tertiary pain clinic.
Evaluation of healthcare services by patients is an essential component of quality improvement. We studied association between patient satisfaction and accessibility of healthcare services to patients with chronic nonmalignant pain. A hundred patients from the Pain Clinic, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia, completed a 27-item questionnaire about their condition, duration of chronic pain treatment, access to healthcare, waiting times for various healthcare services, and their satisfaction with the pain clinic and health system. ⋯ Negative association was found between waiting time for pain clinic appointment and healthcare system grade (r = -0.34, P = 0.02). Patient suggestions for improving pain clinic were more staff, better approach to each patient, and better organization. In conclusion, access to public healthcare for patients with chronic nonmalignant pain should be better to improve patient satisfaction and provide better care.