title: Pain control for laparoscopic colectomy: an analysis of the incidence and utility of epidural analgesia compared to conventional analgesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare short-term outcomes between epidural analgesia and conventional intravenous analgesia for patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy. This paper uses a large national database to add a current perspective on trends in analgesia and the outcomes associated with two analgesia options. Our evidence augments the opinions of recent randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  The University HealthSystem Consortium, an alliance of more than 300 academic and affiliate institutions, was reviewed for the time period of October 2008 through September 2014. International Classification of Disease 9th Clinical Modification codes for laparoscopic colectomy and epidural catheter placement were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 29,429 patients met our criteria and underwent laparoscopic colectomy during the study period. One hundred and ten (0.374%) patients had an epidural catheter placed for analgesia. Baseline patient demographics were similar for the epidural and conventional analgesia groups. Total charges were significantly higher in the epidural group ($52,998 vs. $39,277; p < 0.001). Median length of stay was longer in the epidural group (6 vs. 5 days; p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the epidural and conventional analgesia groups in death (0 vs. 0.03%; p = 0.999), urinary tract infection (0 vs. 0.1%; p = 0.999), ileus (11.8 vs. 13.6%; p = 0.582), or readmission rate (9.1 vs. 9.3%; p = 0.942).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to conventional analgesic techniques, epidural analgesia does not reduce the rate of postoperative ileus, and it is associated with increased cost and increased length of stay. Based on our data, routine use of epidural analgesia for laparoscopic colectomy cannot be justified.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986245 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6245, USA, michael.dasilva@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: daSilva
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lomelin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klinginsmith
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tadaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langenfeld
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics