title: Effect of post-operative analgesia on patient morbidity.
abstract: The pathophysiology that commonly follows surgery results in detrimental physiological effects and may be associated with post-operative mortality and morbidity. The use of post-operative epidural analgesia, but not systemic opioids, may attenuate some of these adverse physiological effects and result in a decrease in patient-related morbidity post-operatively. Randomized trials suggest that the perioperative use of epidural analgesia may facilitate return of gastrointestinal function, attenuate hypercoagulable events and diminish post-operative pulmonary complications. A multimodal approach incorporating the use of epidural analgesia to control perioperative pathophysiology will facilitate the patient's recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Caldwell
mesh_terms: D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000401:mortality*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics