title: [Pain control for liver transplants].
abstract: Liver is the largest organ and is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity. Surgery for liver transplantation is performed through a large skin incision, which gives considerable pain post operatively. We experienced 10 cases of liver transplant, 3 cases used meperidine 0.5 mg/kg intramuscularly, 3 cases used epidural morphine analgesia, and for the remainder 4 cases, we used morphine 2-3 mg intravenously as needed. Liver transplantation is a major surgery. It attracts media for reporting. The hospital administrator realized its importance to the hospital. A 24 hours special nursing team was provided. Addition analgesic medication was given intravenously in a bolus dose of 2-3 mg of morphine. All patients were able to communicate freely with the nursing team. The communication between the patient and nursing team is free. No post-analgesic hypotension or dyspnea were noted. Patients in all three groups were equally satisfied with their analgesic therapy post-operatively. As all patients expect pain after surgery, they were satisfied when the pain was less than what they had anticipated. Blood gases analysis was however better in patients with epidural morphine analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Chang Gung Medical College, Taipei, R.O.C.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine