Comparison between patient-controlled analgesia and subcutaneous morphine in elderly patients after total hip replacement.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness on postoperative pain, and cognitive impact, of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) compared with subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of morphine in elderly patients undergoing total hip replacement (THR). METHODS: Forty patients older than 70 yr were randomly assigned to two different postoperative analgesic techniques for 48 h: i.v. PCA morphine (dose, 1 mg; lockout interval, 8 min; PCA group) or regular s.c. morphine injections (SC group). Postoperative pain was assessed at rest and when moving, using a visual analogue scale (VAS) every 4 h. A Mini Mental Status (MMS) examination was used to assess cognitive functions before surgery, at 2 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery, and at hospital discharge. Side-effects were also recorded systematically during the first 48 h after surgery. RESULTS: The PCA group showed significantly lower pain scores than the SC group both at rest and during mobilization. However, the clinical significance of pain scores was weak. There was no intergroup difference in postoperative MMS scores. The incidence of side-effects was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in healthy elderly subjects undergoing THR, the flexibility of the analgesic regimen is more important than the route of administration with regard to efficacy, adverse effects and recovery of cognitive function.

Short-term prophylactic antibiotics in patients undergoing prostatectomy: report of a double-blind randomized trial with 2 intravenous doses of cefotaxime.

The effect of short-term antibiotic prophylaxis on postoperative infection with 2 injections of cefotaxime begun preoperatively was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial at 1 center on 181 patients with preoperative sterile urine undergoing transurethral resection (90) or open prostatectomy (91). Antibiotic prophylaxis reduced the number of urinary infections significantly in both groups without altering the level of resistant pathogens. Cefotaxime lowered the incidence of postoperative infection in the early postoperative period from 30 to 4 per cent in the transurethral resection group and from 46 to 4.5 per cent in the open prostatectomy group. A significant difference was found between the 2 treatment groups in the incidence of perioperative bacteremia and postoperative fever. Among the patients undergoing an open prostatectomy a reduced rate of wound infection and a shorter duration of hospital stay were witnessed in the treated group. Thus, short-term chemoprophylaxis by cefotaxime is of benefit in reducing morbidity and hospital cost for prostatectomy by either procedure.