The use of tramadol and morphine for pain relief after abdominal hysterectomy

PubMed ID: 15864937Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of a tramadol infusion to morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) results in improved analgesic efficacy compared with morphine PCA alone after abdominal hysterectomy. Methods: Sixty patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy were randomized into two groups, each receiving IV morphine PCA after surgery. The tramadol group received a loading dose of tramadol (1 mg/kg) at skin closure and a postoperative infusion of tramadol at 0.2 mg/kg/h. The control group received an equivalent volume of saline at skin closure and a postoperative saline infusion. Results: The addition of a tramadol infusion to morphine PCA was associated with lower pain scores, a reduction in PCA morphine requirements (27 ± 4.6 mg vs 40.5 ± 5.4 mg over 24 h) and improved patient satisfaction with pain relief (p 0.05). Conclusion: The addition of a tramadol infusion to morphine PCA resulted in improved analgesic efficacy and reduced morphine requirements compared with morphine PCA alone after abdominal hysterectomy