Comparison of two pain postoperative treatment methods in patients with rectal carcinoma

• Main Authors: Ivana Potesak, Mladen Stanec, Gordana Brozović, Ljilja Štefančić, Dejan Kečkeš, Marija Banović, Danko Velimir Vrdoljak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University Hospital for Tumors 2020-01-01
• Series: Libri Oncologici
• Subjects: multimodal analgesia; wound catheter; numerical rating scale; fentanyl; peristalsis
• Online Access: https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/349193
• ISSN: 0300-8142; 2584-3826

Adequate postoperative analgesia is a fundamental human right. The goal of this study was to determine benefits in the treatment of acute postoperative pain by additionally placing a wound catheter at the end of the operation. We have analyzed the effectiveness of postoperative pain therapy of patients who had surgery for rectal carcinoma at the University Hospital for Tumours from 1st April to 30th November 2018. Patients were divided into two groups according to pain therapy protocol. Each group had 30 patients. The first group of patients received intravenous multimodal analgesia. The second group received both the intravenous multimodal analgesia and additional local anesthesia through the wound catheter. We measured the pain intensity with the Numerical rating scale and the amount of opioid analgesic fentanyl given to the patients. We recorded these data: when the patient came out of the operation theatre (time zero), six hours, twenty-four hours, and forty-eight hours after the surgery. Furthermore, we took registered the timing of the first postoperative bowel movements. Results showed a slightly better pain control in the second group but without statistical significance.