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A survey of postoperative epidural and intravenous analgesia in Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2007

P. Tzavellas ,
K. Papilas ,
I. Grigoropoulou ,
C. Zolindaki ,
P. Kouki ,
H. Chrona  and
G. Kostopanagiotou
P. Tzavellas*
Affiliation:
General Hospital of Nikea Pireaus, Department of Anaesthesiology, Iraklion, Athens, Greece
K. Papilas
Affiliation:
Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece
I. Grigoropoulou
Affiliation:
Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece
C. Zolindaki
Affiliation:
General Hospital of Nikea Pireaus, Department of Anaesthesiology, Iraklion, Athens, Greece
P. Kouki
Affiliation:
Thriasion Hospital, Elefsina, Greece
H. Chrona
Affiliation:
General Hospital of Nikea Pireaus, Department of Anaesthesiology, Iraklion, Athens, Greece
G. Kostopanagiotou
Affiliation:
University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, School of Medicine, Second Department of Anesthesiology, Athens, Greece
*
Correspondence to: Tzavellas Pantelis, Department of Anaesthesiology, General Hospital of Nikea Pireaus, 16 Folegandrou Street, Iraklion, Athens 14122, Greece. E-mail: ptzavellas@yahoo.gr; Tel: +30 2102755082; Fax: +30 2102796576
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Summary

Background and objective

Epidural and intravenous analgesia are widely used for postoperative pain management. Efficacy and safety is enhanced with the establishment of acute pain services. We studied the terms of application of these techniques in Greek hospitals and compared practices between anaesthetic departments with or without acute pain services.

Methods

We performed a postal survey regarding departmental policy on the application of epidural and intravenous analgesia, patient monitoring, audit and educational activities, acute pain service teams and proposals for improvement. Pain services were classified according to predetermined quality criteria. Hospitals with or without acute pain services were compared.

Results

Response rate was 46.3% (51 of 110 departments). Epidural analgesia was used in 49 departments, equally applied as intermittent boluses or continuous infusion. Twenty-two of the 39 departments that were using continuous infusion, used exclusively a lumbar approach. Intravenous analgesia was used by 42 (82%) departments; 13 used exclusively continuous infusion. All eight departments that had an established acute pain service fulfilled the predefined quality criteria compared with only ten of the remaining 43 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study discloses important issues regarding the use of intravenous and epidural analgesia and postoperative patient monitoring in Greek hospitals. Implementation of acute pain services that are satisfying the quality criteria may help to improve patient care.

Keywords

PAIN MEASUREMENTPAIN, postoperative, patient controlledANAESTHESIA EPIDURALACUTE PAIN SERVICESHEALTHCARE SURVEY
Type
Original Article
Information
European Journal of Anaesthesiology , Volume 24 , Issue 11 , November 2007 , pp. 942 - 950
Copyright
Copyright © European Society of Anaesthesiology 2007

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