title: Is single-shot epidural analgesia more effective than morphine patient-controlled analgesia for donor nephrectomy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared single-shot epidural analgesia (20 mL 0.125% levobupivacaine and 3 mg diamorphine) followed by regular tramadol versus morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for postoperative pain following donor nephrectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated 12 patients who received single-shot epidural analgesia (SSE group) before anesthesia induction, followed by regular tramadol, and 14 patients who received morphine PCA (PCA group) for postoperative pain after donor nephrectomy. Postoperative pain scores were recorded at 0, 1, 12, 24, and 48 hours after nephrectomy. We also collected data regarding morphine consumption, additional analgesia, nausea, antiemetic use, time to oral intake, mobilization, and discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 groups were similar for age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists status, duration of surgery, laparoscopic/open nephrectomy ratio, and intra- and postoperative additional analgesia. There were no significant between-group differences in pain and nausea scores. The SSE group showed lower intra- and postoperative antiemetic use than the PCA group (25% vs 78.5% and 1 dose vs 2.5 doses, respectively; P<.05). The average time to oral fluid and solid food intake and for assisted mobilization were similar in the 2 groups. However, independent mobilization and hospital discharge were significantly sooner in the SSE group (34 hours vs. 47.4 hours; [P<.05] and 3.7 days vs 4.7 days [P<.05], respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small pilot study, SSE with 20 mL 0.125% levobupivacaine and 3 mg diamorphine, followed by regular tramadol, provided postoperative analgesia similar to morphine PCA. However, patients in the SSE group used less antiemetic medication, were independently mobile earlier, and were discharged from the hospital earlier than patients in the PCA group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom. z.milan@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Milan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kocarev
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rawari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007902:Length of Stay; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000932:Antiemetics; D014147:Tramadol; D003932:Heroin; D009020:Morphine; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine