Cryoanalgesia versus extradural morphine: a comparative study on post-thoracotomy pain

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 28 patients undergoing elective thoracotomy operations. The efficacy and side effects of cryoanalgesia [12 patients] and extradural morphine administration [16 patients] were studied. Those two methods are well known to produce the longest duration of pain relief after throacotomy. The postoperative analgesia in the cryogroup started immediately after termination of operation and a well sustained pain scores were observed through out the whole period of study [72 hours], with a mean V.A.S. of 11 +/- 7.3 mm. The analgesia in the epidural group started after a period of initial delay [a mean of 45 +/- 23 min.]. The pain releif was satisfactory and one or two additional doses of morphin were needed to cover a period of analgesia equivalent to that obtaine by the cryogroup. A part from reversible area of cutaneous sensory loss occuring in all patients of the cryogroup, the epidural group patients showed many adverse side effects namely drowsiness, nausea, vomiting and distressing itching