title: Comparison of patient-controlled analgesia versus intramuscular narcotics in resolution of postoperative ileus after radical retropubic prostatectomy.
abstract: Patient-controlled analgesia has become standard practice after major abdominal operations. The benefits of patient-controlled analgesia have been well documented. However, its possible effect of prolonging postoperative ileus has not been well examined. To determine if patient-controlled analgesia prolongs postoperative ileus when compared to conventional intramuscular narcotics, a retrospective review of length of postoperative ileus in 98 consecutive patients (62 using patient-controlled analgesia and 36 using intramuscular narcotics) undergoing bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and radical retropubic prostatectomy was done. The patients receiving patient-controlled analgesia resolved the postoperative ileus an average of 1.0 day later than the intramuscular injection group (5.2 days versus 4.2 days p < 0.0001). Overall hospital stay was not significantly affected. Our results show that patient-controlled analgesia use prolongs postoperative ileus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilliland
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Weigel
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Mebust
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Austenfeld
mesh_terms: D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine; D008614:Meperidine