Publication: A comparative study of intra venous patient-controlled analgesia morphine and tramadol in patients undergoing major operation
Date
2004
Authors
Kamalrujan Hassan, Shamsul
Journal Title
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Abstract
The success of major surgery depends partly on providing effective
post-operative pain relief, which can be achieved by morphine administration via
PCA system. Tramadol is a weak opioid analgesic, which act mainly on f..L-opioid
receptor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous
patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) Tramadol in comparison with PCA Morphine in
tenn of analgesic properties, sedation and other side effects such as nausea, vomiting
and pruritus. randomized, double-blinded study was conducted on 160 selected ASA I
and II patients who were divided into two groups by a closed envelope technique.
Following surgery, the PCA morphine (M) group (n=80) received a loading dose of
0.1 mglkg of intravenous morphine followed by I mg ( 1 mg/ml) of PCA infusion as
required. The PCA tramadol (T) group (n=80) received a loading dose of 2.5 mg/kg
of intravenous tramadol followed by 10 mg (10 mg/ml) ofPCA infusion as required.
The lockout intervals for both groups were 10 minutes. None of the patients received
baseline infusion. In the recovery room, patients were given oxygen via facemask
and monitored for pain score according to Modified Pain Score, sedation score according to Ramsay Sedation Score, respiratory rate, nausea, vomiting, pruritus,
blood pressure and pulse rate. Patients were evaluated at the end of 30 minutes in
recovery room. After 4 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours post operation, patients were
again evaluated in the ward. Showed no difference in the demographic data between the two groups
(p>0.05). The mean pain score in tramadol group at 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours
and 48 hours post operation were 1.32 ± 0.79, 1.04 ± 0.79, 0.35 ± 0.48 and 0.09 ±
0.33 respectively. Whereas, the mean pain score in morphine group at 30 minutes, 4
hours, 24 hours and 48 hours post operation were 1.35 ± 0.99, 1.14 ± 0.81, 0.40 ±
0.54 and 0.10 ± 0.34 respectively. There were no significant differences in the mean
pain score between the t\vo groups at each duration of assessment (p>0.05). The
mean sedation score in tramadol group at 30 minutes, 4 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours
post operation were 0.90 ± 0.74, 0.56 ± 0.59, 0.08 ± 0.27 and 0.02 ± 0.16
respectively. Whereas, the mean sedation score in morphine group at 30 minutes, 4
hours, 24 hours and 48 hours post operation were 0.84 ± 0.70, 0.46 ± 0.64, 0.08 ±
0.27 and 0.01 ± 0.11 respectively. There were no significant differences in the mean
sedation score between the two groups at each duration of assessment (p>0.05).
There were also no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence
of nausea, vomiting and pruritus. This study indicates that PCA tramadol is suitable to be used as an
alternative to PCA morphine in controlling pain following major surgery. The
incidence of sedation, Dallfiea and pruritus were similar in the two groups.