Effect of epidural compared to patient-controlled intravenous analgesia on outcomes for patients undergoing liver resection for neoplastic disease

BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia is routinely used for postoperative pain control following abdominal surgeries, yet data regarding the safety and efficacy of epidural analgesia is controversial. METHODS: Pain-related and clinical perioperative data were extracted and correlated with baseline clinicopathologic data and method of analgesia (epidural vs. intravenous patient-controlled analgesia) in patients who underwent hepatectomy from 2012 to 2014. Chronic pain was defined by specific narcotic requirements preoperatively. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients underwent hepatectomy with 60% having epidurals placed for postoperative pain control. Epidural patients underwent more major hepatectomies and open resections. Comparison of pain scores between both groups demonstrated no significant difference (all P >.05). A significantly lower proportion of TEA patients required additional IV pain medications than those with IVPCA (P < 0.001). There was no major effect of epidural analgesia on time to ambulation or complications (all P > 0.05). After adjusting for perioperative factors, and surgical extent and approach, no significant differences in fluids administered or length of stay were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Overall postoperative outcomes were not significantly different based on method of analgesia after adjusting for type and extent of hepatic resection. Though patients with epidurals underwent more extensive operations they required less additional IV pain medications than IVPCA patients.