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Orthotopic liver transplant patients require less postoperative morphine than do patients undergoing hepatic
Eugene W Moretti1, Kerri M Robertson, J E Tuttle-Newhall
1Department of Anesthesiology, PO Box 3094, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. moret002@mc.duke.edu
Study Objective:
To compare postoperative morphine use, analgesic efficacy, and side effect profiles in patients following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) and liver resection (LR).
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Liver transplant and liver resection surgery at a university hospital.
Patients:
25 ASA physical status I, II, III, and IV patients undergoing OLTx or liver resection.
Measurements And Main Results:
Morphine use was significantly decreased in the OLTx patients at 6,12, 24, 48, and 72 hours following commencement of patient-controlled analgesia. After commencement of patient-controlled analgesia, pain scores were significantly reduced in the OLTx group compared with those in the liver resection group at 6 and 12 hours.
Conclusions:
Orthotopic liver transplant patients experienced less pain and used less morphine postoperatively than did liver resection patients.