Orthotopic liver transplant patients require less postoperative morphine than do patients undergoing hepatic resection.
OBJECTIVE
To compare postoperative morphine use, analgesic efficacy, and side effect profiles in patients following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) and liver resection (LR).


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Liver transplant and liver resection surgery at a university hospital.


METHODS
25 ASA physical status I, II, III, and IV patients undergoing OLTx or liver resection.


RESULTS
Morphine use was significantly decreased in the OLTx patients at 6,12, 24, 48, and 72 hours following commencement of patient-controlled analgesia. After commencement of patient-controlled analgesia, pain scores were significantly reduced in the OLTx group compared with those in the liver resection group at 6 and 12 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Orthotopic liver transplant patients experienced less pain and used less morphine postoperatively than did liver resection patients.
Moretti
Eugene W
EW
Department of Anesthesiology, PO Box 3094, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. moret002@mc.duke.edu
Robertson
Kerri M
KM
Tuttle-Newhall
J E
JE
Clavien
Pierre-Alain
PA
Gan
Tong-Joo
TJ
D000328:Adult; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine