Comparison of degree of pain in patients after radical gastrectomy under different anesthetic regimens

Objective To compare the degree of pain in patients after radical gastrectomy under different anesthetic regimens.Methods One hundred and two ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes,aged 50-75 yr,weighing 45-70 kg,undergoing elective radical gastrectomy,were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n =34 each):general anesthesia (GA) group,combined general-subcostal transversus abdominis plane block (CGTA) group and combined general-epidural anesthesia (CGEA) group.The patients were sent to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) after tracheal extubation,and the VAS score on arrival in the PACU was recorded.The degree of pain was evaluated by VAS score,and when VAS scores ＞ 3,the patients received intravenous morphine titration.When VAS scores ≤ 3,morphine titration was stopped and all the patients were connected to patient-controlled intravenous analgesia and/or epidural analgesia pump.The total amount of morphine consumed was recorded at the end of titration,and the occurrence of adverse reactions was also observed.Results Compared with groups GA and CGTA,the incidence of moderate to severe postoperative pain was significantly decreased in group CGEA (P ＜0.01).The incidence of severe postoperative pain,the VAS score on arrival in the PACU and the total amount of morphine consumed were decreased gradually in groups GA,CGTA and CGEA ( P ＜ 0.01 ).The incidence of sedation was significantly lower in group CGEA than in group GA (P ＜ 0.01 ).There were no significant differences in the other adverse reactions among the three groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion The degree of pain is reduced gradually in patients after radical gastrectomy under GA,CGTA and CGEA. Key words: Anesthesia; Stomach neoplasms; Pain,postoperative