Factors affecting intravenous analgesic requirements after colectomy.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine factors that influence postoperative IV analgesic use after colectomy.


METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent colectomy between January 1997 and December 2000 at our medical center and calculated the amount of postoperative IV narcotics needed in morphine equivalents. Statistical differences (p < 0.05 considered significant) were measured using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Correlations were performed using Spearman correlation coefficients, and linear regression analysis was also performed.


RESULTS
Four hundred eighty-one patients (235 men, 246 women) underwent colectomy; patients had a mean age of 60.6 years (range, 17 to 96 years). Procedures performed included total/subtotal colectomy (10%, n = 49), right colectomy (42%, n = 200), transverse colectomy (3%, n = 12), left/sigmoid colectomy (40%, n = 195), and low anterior resection (4%, n = 17). Laparoscopic colectomy was performed in 53 (11%) patients. Mean postoperative morphine equivalent use was 160.2 mg. Narcotic analgesic use was significantly less for women (p = 0.02), diagnosis of cancer (p = 0.02), and laparoscopic colectomy (p = 0.0001). Patients undergoing a right colectomy required less postoperative narcotics than patients having other types of colectomies (p < 0.02). There was a positive correlation between postoperative narcotic use and operative time (r = 0.14, p = 0.007) and a negative correlation with patient age (r = -0.37, p = 0.0001). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that age (p = 0.0001), female gender (p = 0.04), and laparoscopy (p = 0.001) were independent predictors for decreased narcotic use.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative IV narcotic analgesic use is affected by gender, patient age, indication for colectomy, operative time, type of procedure, and operative technique.
Department of General Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Charles S
CS
Joels
Gamal
G
Mostafa
Brent D
BD
Matthews
Kent W
KW
Kercher
Ronald F
RF
Sing
H James
HJ
Norton
B Todd
BT
Heniford
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid