Oh, T.K., Lim, M.C., Lee, Y., Yun, J.Y., Yeon, S., & Park, S.Y. (2016). Improved postoperative pain control for cytoreductive surgery in women with ovarian cancer using patient-controlled epidural analgesia. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 26, 588–593.

To compare the pain scores and complications of patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer and used either patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) or patient-controlled IV analgesia (PCA) for postoperative pain management

Use of either patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) or patient-controlled IV analgesia (PCA) for postoperative pain management in ovarian cancer surgery

• N = 105
• AGE: Mean = 53.8 years (SD = 8.1) in PCEA; mean = 53.3 years (SD = 11.3) in PCA
• MALES: Not noted  
• FEMALES: Not noted
• CURRENT TREATMENT: Other
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Patients undergoing laparotomy for ovarian cancer

• SITE: Single site   
• SETTING TYPE: Inpatient    
• LOCATION: Center for Uterine Cancer in the National Cancer Center of Korea

PHASE OF CARE: Active anti-tumor treatment

Retrospective review of pain scores for postoperative days (POD) 0-5 and the incidence of complications were examined and compared in patients receiving PCEA and PCA.

Numeric rating scale was used to measure differences in intensity of pain

Of 105 patients, 38 received PCEA and 67 received PCA. Pain scores were significantly lower in the PCEA group than the PCA group at POD 0, 1, and 3 and tended to be lower in the PCEA group at PODs 2, 4, and 5. PCEA provided significantly better pain relief as analyzed by a mixed-effect model.

PCEA was more effective for postoperative pain management compared with PCA from POD 1 to POD 3 in patients with ovarian cancer who underwent cytoreductive surgery, without increased morbidity.

• Risk of bias (no blinding)
• Risk of bias (no random assignment)
• Findings not generalizable
• Subject withdrawals ≥ 10%

None included