Thoracic epidural analgesia for the relief of postoperative pain in thoracic surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Postoperative pain is a phenomenon that appears frequently and constitutes one of the most important challenges in the surgical field.
Objective: To describe the clinical and hemodynamic results obtained with the use of high thoracic epidural as analgesic technique during the postoperative period in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.
Method: A descriptive, longitudinal, prospective study was carried out in "Abel Santamaría Cuadrado" Hospital, during the period between January 2014 and January 2017. The sample consisted of 37 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Results: In blood pressure and heart rate according to analgesic response, normal values prevailed in those without postoperative pain, with 33 ± 5.23 and 33 ± 7.86 respectively. A mean of oxygen saturation of 99.48 % and respiratory rate of 16 res/min were calculated. It was evidenced that 31 patients (83.78 %) did not present postoperative complications after the analgesic technique. In the majority, rescue analgesia was not necessary, an element that represented 89.19 %. It was significant that 32 patients (86.49 %) said they were satisfied with the procedure and the results achieved.
Conclusions: The application of peridural with morphine for thoracic surgery yielded very effective results as an analgesic method with adequate stability, minimal complications and analgesic rescue requirements, which led to patient satisfaction.