Effect of postoperative epidural analgesia on surgical outcome.

Bidragets oversatte titel: Effect of postoperative epidural analgesia on surgical outcome.

K Holte, Kathrine Holte

44 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Pain relief allowing sufficient mobilization after major surgical procedures can only be achieved by continuous epidural analgesia with local anesthetics, which also reduces the stress response to surgery. However, the role of postoperative epidural analgesia on postoperative morbidity is controversial. We therefore update the effects of postoperative analgesia on surgical outcome. After major abdominal surgery, postoperative epidural analgesia with local anesthetics significantly reduces postoperative ileus and pulmonary complications while effects on cardiac morbidity are debatable. Continuous epidural analgesia significantly lowers the risk of thromboembolic complications after lower body procedures, while no effect is seen after major abdominal surgery. Unfortunately, many studies have inadequate study design, with use of lumbar epidural analgesia for abdominal procedures, or the epidural regimen does not contain a sufficient amount of local anesthetics. Future evaluation of the effects of epidural analgesia on postoperative outcome also requires integration of epidural analgesia within a multimodal rehabilitation programme.
Bidragets oversatte titelEffect of postoperative epidural analgesia on surgical outcome.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftMinerva Anestesiologica
Vol/bind68
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)157-161
Antal sider5
ISSN0375-9393
StatusUdgivet - 2002

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