[Tramadol in elastomeric continuous perfusion for analgesia after gynecologic surgery]

Quality of analgesia provided by continuous infusion of tramadol through an elastomeric infuser (Baxter PC1071) was studied in a group of 40 women undergoing laparotomy to treat non tumoral disease. After a loading dose of 100 mg of tramadol in the recovery room, the elastomeric infuser was connected, loaded with 300 mg of tramadol in 48 ml of saline. The patient was then transferred to the ward. Analgesic quality was assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS) of 1 to 10 and on a semantic scale. Side effects, the need for supplemental analgesia and the opinion of the nurse were all recorded. The highest VAS score in the 24 h period was 2.69. Pain was described as slight by 52.5% of the women, moderate by 12.5% and absent by 35%. The main side effects were nausea and vomiting (12.5%). Three patients needed supplementary analgesia. The technique was described by 85% of the nurses as good (62.5%) or very good (22.5%). Elastomeric infusers are an effective way to deliver analgesics, and tramadol proved to be a valid analgesic for continuous infusion.