Articles: analgesia.
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Surg Gynecol Obstet · Mar 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialA randomized comparison of patient-controlled versus standard analgesic requirements in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.
In the current study, 55 patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy were randomly allocated to receive postoperative analgesia (morphine sulfate) administered through either patient-controlled intravenous (PCA) or standard intramuscular (IM) routes. There were no significant differences in length of hospitalization or required dose of morphine sulfate. Patients randomized to PCA reported significantly improved subjective relief from pain and a smaller percentage of time in pain during each of the first two postoperative days. ⋯ Theoretically, PCA regimens can deliver narcotic analgesia at a higher and more varied rate (with fewer side effects) compared with standard IM narcotic delivery, which is more limited by considerations of clinical doses. In PCA dosing, patients should experience less time in pain and sedation. The results of the current study support this premise.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialDifferential analgesic effects of low-dose epidural morphine and morphine-bupivacaine at rest and during mobilization after major abdominal surgery.
In a double-blind, randomized study, epidural infusions of low-dose morphine (0.2 mg/h) combined with low-dose bupivacaine (10 mg/h) were compared with epidural infusions of low-dose morphine (0.2 mg/h) alone for postoperative analgesia at rest and during mobilization and cough in 24 patients after elective major abdominal surgery. All patients in addition received systemic piroxicam (20 mg daily). ⋯ We conclude, that low-dose epidural bupivacaine potentiates postoperative low-dose epidural morphine analgesia during mobilization and cough. Evaluation of postoperative analgesic regimens should include assessment of pain during various activities as different analgesics may have differential effects on pain at rest and during mobilization.
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Mar 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialUse of patient-controlled analgesia to compare the efficacy of epidural to intravenous fentanyl administration.
Fentanyl, unlike morphine, is highly lipophilic and rapidly diffuses out of the epidural space. Respiratory depression is, therefore, unlikely when fentanyl is given epidurally. However, much of fentanyl's analgesic effect is mediated by systemic rather than spinal receptor binding. ⋯ There were also no significant differences in the cumulative dosage of fentanyl within each group (epidural vs IV) or between the groups. Thus, the analgesic effects of epidural fentanyl appear largely mediated by systemic absorption. Intravenous fentanyl achieves a similar degree of analgesia and a more rapid onset of effect without the need for epidural catheterization.
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Regional anesthesia · Mar 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialPostoperative epidural morphine, but not epidural bupivacaine, delays gastric emptying on the first day after cholecystectomy.
Gastric emptying is delayed during the first days after abdominal surgery. Studies with volunteers have shown that epidural morphine delays gastric emptying but epidural analgesia with bupivacaine does not. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether these differences in healthy volunteers are also found after cholecystectomy when epidural morphine or epidural bupivacaine is used for postoperative pain relief. ⋯ Postoperative gastric emptying was significantly delayed after epidural analgesia with morphine compared to thoracic epidural bupivacaine. Compared to the control situation, epidural bupivacaine did not influence gastric emptying.
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Changes in estrogen levels at menarche, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause may trigger or change the prevalence of migraine. The fall in estrogen that occurs with menstruation is the trigger for menstrual migraine, whereas the sustained high estrogen levels during pregnancy frequently result in headache relief. Estrogen produces changes in prostaglandins, hypothalmic opioids, and prolactin secretion, which may in part account for genesis of headache. The treatment of menstrual migraine and migraine associated with menopause and the use of oral contraceptives is discussed, focusing on standard headache treatment and hormonal manipulation.