Patient-Controlled Analgesia Effect after Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Carcinoma

Purpose :It is important for a patient’s quality of life and for good recovery after surgery to control the postoperative pain. However, the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) effect after gastrectomy is still not understood. Methods :One hundred patients who had undergone an elective gastrectomy between August 1997 and July 1999 at Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, were allocated to two groups: one received PCA (PCA group) and the other received intermittant demerol injection (Control group). The demanded amount of analgesic agent, clinical course, retrospective pain score, and side effects were analyzed. Results :The amount of analgesic agents required after gastrectomy was variable and unpredictable. The average of the retrospective pain score in the PCA group was 2.4 compared to 3.0 in the control group (p=0.008). The clinical courses between the PCA group and the control group were not different in terms of L-tube removal, gas passing, diet start, and hospital stay. The complication rates of the two groups were similar. The most frequent side effect of PCA was urinary retention. Conclusion :PCA after gastrectomy is good way to alleviate the postopetrative pain, but does not shorten the recovery time.ope