title: Continuous postoperative epidural analgesia in management of postoperative surgical pain.
abstract: In the last fifteen months we have used continuous postoperative epidural analgesia after open urologic surgery and herein report our experience with the first 64 patients. Incisional pain was completely eliminated in 96 percent of patients. Epidural analgesia diminished pain-related pulmonary complications without sedation. Complications were tolerable and manageable. Hypotension due to sympathetic blockade responds to intravenous fluid administration. Urinary retention is avoidable if the epidural infusion is discontinued prior to removing the urethral catheter. Itching is an undesirable consequence observed by 20 percent of patients when morphine is used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Ohio.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gregg
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Bracken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*