The Effectiveness of Foot -Reflexo- Massage on the Postoperative Pain of Gastrectomy Patients / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: The objects of this study were to determine the effects of foot reflexo massage on the postoperative pain of the subtotal gastrectomy patients according to quasi-experimental research design, and to provide demonstrative data for using the foot reflexo massage as an intervention for pain nursing. METHODS: The foot reflexo massages were performed on 34 subtotal gastrectomy patients after informed consent was obtained. They were divided into two groups, i.e. control group (n=17) and experimental group (n=17). After 6 hours and 12 hours from the subtotal gastrectomy, the massage was carried out on each foot for 10 minutes twice. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was employed as the measurement tools of pain, and the degree of postoperative pain was measured through frequency of prn (pro re nata) analgesia in chart review. RESULTS: The experimental group with foot reflexo massage 6 hours after the operation have significantly less score of postoperative pain than the control group (5.76+/-0.83, 4.35+/-1.0, p=.000). The experimental group with foot reflexo massage 12 hours after the operation have significantly less score of postoperative pain than the control group (5.12+/-0.53, 3.00+/-1.17, p=.000). The experimental group with foot reflexo massage have significantly less frequency of prn analgesics than the control group from six hours to twelve hours after the operation (p=.004). CONCLUSIONS: It is considered foot reflexo massage is effective for reducing postoperative pain of subtotal gastrectomy patients, as well as useful for an immediate nursing intervention.

The Effects of Stomach Cancer Surgery on Immunomodulation and Neuroendocrine Response: Comparison of Anesthesia and Analgesia Methods / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Authors have undertaken this study to see if the choice of anesthesia can directly or indirectly provide immunomodulation for cytokines, to determine the relationship of cytokines and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in stomach cancer surgery patients, and also to see whether the amount of morphine administration and choice of analgesia can influence cytokine release, and possibly immunity. METHODS: Total 19 gastric cancer surgery patients were randomly assigned in double-blind fashion into two groups. Group-G (n=9) was provided with general anesthesia plus morphine intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IV-PCA), whereas group-GE (n=10) with preemptive epidural and general anesthesia plus continuous epidural analgesia for control of postoperative pain. At predetermined time interval, proinflammatory cytokines and stress hormones were evaluated with visual analog pain scale. Simultaneous assessments of operating and anesthesia time, total morphine doses, the time to recovery of gastrointestinal function and incidences of complications were also made. RESULTS: Demographic data, the durations of operation and anesthesia and recovery of gastrointestinal function were similar in both groups. Total morphine doses were approximately four times greater in group-G. Secretions of interleukin-1 beta , TNF and epinephrine were blocked by preemptive epidural anesthesia, meanwhile, interleukin-6 as well as ACTH and cortisol were not. After 24 hours after skin incision, the differences of cytokines, ACTH and cortisol between two groups were dissipated. In spite of these hormonal findings, visual analog pain scale could not disclose any differences. Incidences of complications were statistically insignificant except that of itching in group-GE. CONCLUSION: Preemptive epidural anesthesia and analgesia can partially block only some of cytokines and stress hormones, and these effects do not have clinically relevant long term influences. The amounts and means of morphine administered by continuous epidural analgesia block or IV-PCA demonstrated no evidence of immunosuppression at clinical dose range.