[Efficacy of subcutaneous patient-controlled analgesia using pentazocine for major abdominal surgery in elderly patients].
BACKGROUND
Subcutaneous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) may be an alternative method for pain control in patients without an epidural catheter. The authors evaluated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous PCA using pentazocine for postoperative analgesia after major abdominal surgery.


METHODS
Sixty-three patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were classified into three groups by age; under 65 years of age (Group 1, n = 23) ; 65-75 years (Group 2, n = 30); over 75 years (Group 3, n = 10). Anesthesia was induced with propofol and was maintained with isoflurane-nitrous oxide inhalation. All patients received 30-45 mg of pentazocine before incision. At the end of surgery, subcutaneous pentazocine PCA was begun at a rate of 0.5 ml x hr(-1). Given regimen was pentazocine 240-390 mg and droperidol 5 mg with 1% lidocaine, and the total amount of dose was 40 ml. Postoperative pain control was assessed using a 5 rating verbal pain score (VPS) and a visual analog pain scale (VAS).


RESULTS
Subcutaneous PCA of pentazocine provided adequate analgesia over 70% of the patients studied. There were no differences between the three groups regarding VPS and VAS. There are no severe complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Subcutaneous PCA of pentazocine is a simple, safe, and effective method to control postoperative pain after major abdominal surgery. Effectiveness of subcutaneous PCA of pentazocine did not depend on age of patients.
Suzuki
Satomi
S
Department of Anesthesia, Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamanashi 400 8506.
Nonaka
Akihiko
A
Abe
Fumiaki
F
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000592:standards*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010423:Pentazocine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010423:Pentazocine