Ying-Hsuan Tai1,2,3,4, Hsiang-Ling Wu1,2, Shih-Pin Lin1,2, Mei-Yung Tsou1,2, Kuang-Yi Chang1,2. 1. Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. 2. School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. 3. Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC. 4. Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a common postoperative complication in patients undergoing major surgery and may significantly affect their quality of life (QOL). Whether patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) can reduce the risk of chronic postsurgical pain and promote long-term QOL is still unclear. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we followed up patients undergoing major surgery, recorded changes in their postoperative QOL over time using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and chronic pain events, evaluated the long-term effects of distinct PCA techniques (intravenous, epidural, or none) on their QOL and risk of chronic pain, and explored relevant predictors. The patients' QOL and chronic pain events were collected preoperatively, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Generalized linear mixed models were used to control for individual heterogeneity and adjust for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: We included 328 patients undergoing major surgery from September 22, 2015, to December 31, 2016, in this study. Multivariate regression models showed that patients using intravenous PCA had a better QOL in physical health (adjusted coefficient 3.7, 95% CI, 0.5-8.0) compared with those receiving non-PCA treatments. Distinct PCA techniques did not significantly affect QOL in psychological, social relationship, or environmental domains of the WHOQOL-BREF scale or the risk of chronic postsurgical pain. CONCLUSION: Patients using intravenous PCA had a better QOL in physical health over time after major surgery, which may have been due to factors other than pain-relieving effects.
BACKGROUND:Chronic pain is a common postoperative complication in patients undergoing major surgery and may significantly affect their quality of life (QOL). Whether patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) can reduce the risk of chronic postsurgical pain and promote long-term QOL is still unclear. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we followed up patients undergoing major surgery, recorded changes in their postoperative QOL over time using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and chronic pain events, evaluated the long-term effects of distinct PCA techniques (intravenous, epidural, or none) on their QOL and risk of chronic pain, and explored relevant predictors. The patients' QOL and chronic pain events were collected preoperatively, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Generalized linear mixed models were used to control for individual heterogeneity and adjust for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: We included 328 patients undergoing major surgery from September 22, 2015, to December 31, 2016, in this study. Multivariate regression models showed that patients using intravenous PCA had a better QOL in physical health (adjusted coefficient 3.7, 95% CI, 0.5-8.0) compared with those receiving non-PCA treatments. Distinct PCA techniques did not significantly affect QOL in psychological, social relationship, or environmental domains of the WHOQOL-BREF scale or the risk of chronic postsurgical pain. CONCLUSION:Patients using intravenous PCA had a better QOL in physical health over time after major surgery, which may have been due to factors other than pain-relieving effects.