Abstract
Objective: To study the effectiveness and complications of thoracic epidural analgesia in patients undergoing open liver resection surgery
Study Design: Prospective Observational Study.
Place and Duration of Study: Army Liver Transplant Unit, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Aug 19 to May 22.
Methodology: A total of 50 patients who had open liver resection surgery and received thoracic epidural analgesia for pain relief were included in the study. All patients were above 18 years of age. Patients who had abnormal coagulation were excluded from the study. The effectiveness of the epidural was assessed by measuring the numerical rating scale (NRS) in the post-operative period. Complications, including accidental removal and epidural haematoma, were noted.
Results: 48(96%) group subjects had adequate pain relief with no to mild pain in 7(13.7%), 15(29.4%), 38(74.5%) and 41(80.4%) patients on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th post-operative day (POD), respectively, with a p-value <0.001. The frequency of moderate pain was recorded in 18(35.3%) patients in the first POD, 24(47.1%) patients in the second POD, 7(13.7%) patients in the third POD, and 9(17.60%) on fourth POD. The frequency of pain was severe in 25(49.0%),
Conclusion: Thoracic epidural analgesia is an efficient and safe modality of analgesia after liver resection.