COMPARISON OF PATIENT-CONTROLLED ANALGESIA WITH TRAMADOL VS MORPHINE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ABDOMINAL GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERY

Objective. To compare the analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with tramadol and with morphine for postoperative middle or severe pain. Methods. Fifty-nine patients, scheduled for elective hysterectomy or hysteromyomectomy, were ran domly divided into Group T (tramadol-treated group) and Group M (morphine-treated group). The 2 drugs were administered intravenously via a patient-controlled analgesia device till 24 h postoperatively. Efficacy was assessed by comparing total pain relief (TOTPAR) and the sum of pain intensity difference (SPID) values over 24 h. Results. Statistically significant equivalence of tramadol and morphine was shown by TOTPAR values (15.9+4.4 and 16.4+3.5, respectively) and SPID values (9.2+4.7 and 9.0±2.0, respectively) (P＞0.05). Tramadol caused fewer adverse events than morphine(16.7% and 26.7% of patients, respectively). Conclusion. The analgesic efficacy of PCA with tramadol and with morphine were equivalent in the treatment of postoperative pain, and tramadol can cause slighter gastrointestinal adverse effects.