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Objective: We aimed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy as well as the postoperative quality of recovery of preoperative oral duloxetine a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor for patients undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery.Materials and Methods: Sixty-two patients, undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery were divided into 2 equal groups, received oral duloxetine 60 mg (2 h preoperative) or placebo. Postoperative 48 hours morphine consumption, visual analog scale pain score, and quality of recovery were measured. Results:The cumulative 48 hours morphine consumption was significantly reduced in the duloxetine group compared with the placebo group (mean ± SD) (5.2 ± 3.2 vs. 12.9 ± 3.4 mg), mean difference (95% confidence interval) 7.6 mg (5.9-9.3) P < 0.001. The time to first morphine request was delayed significantly in the duloxetine group, median (interquartile range), 25 (19 to 38) versus 8 (4 to 9) hours, P < 0.001. The duloxetine group had lower pain scores than the placebo group at 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours postoperatively, however, nonsignificant changes were observed at 0, 2, 4, 36, and 48 hours postoperatively. Participants in the duloxetine group had a better postoperative quality of recovery than the placebo group. The median (interquartile range) of the global quality of recovery-40 scoring system for the duloxetine group was 185 (180 to 191) compared with 170 (163 to 175) in the placebo group (P < 0.001).Discussion: A single preoperative dose of oral duloxetine, 60 mg for patients subjected to major abdominal cancer surgery reduced postoperative pain, decreased opioid consumption, and improved the quality of recovery.

Background and objectivesMajor abdominal cancer surgeries are associated with significant perioperative mortality and morbidity due to myocardial ischemia and infarction. This study examined the effect of perioperative patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) on occurrence of ischemic cardiac injury in ischemic patients undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery.Patients and methodsOne hundred and twenty patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade II and III) of either sex were scheduled for elective upper gastrointestinal cancer surgeries. Patients were allocated randomly into two groups (60 patients each) to receive, besides general anesthesia: continuous intra and postoperative intravenous (IV) infusion with fentanyl for 72 h postoperatively (patient controlled intravenous analgesia [PCIA] group) or continuous intra and postoperative epidural infusion with bupivacaine 0.125% and fentanyl (PCEA group) for 72 h postoperatively. Perioperative hemodynamics were recorded. Postoperative pain was assessed over 72 h using visual analog scale (VAS). All patients were screened for occurrence of myocardial injury (MI) by electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac troponin I serum level. Other postoperative complications as arrhythmia, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and death were recorded.ResultsThere was a significant reduction in overall adverse cardiac events (myocardial injury, arrhythmias, angina, heart failure and nonfatal cardiac arrest) in PCEA group in comparison to PCIA group. Also, there was a significant reduction in dynamic VAS pain score in group PCEA in comparison to PCIA at all measured time points. Regarding perioperative hemodynamics, there was a significant reduction in intra-operative mean arterial pressure (MAP); and heart rate in PCEA group in comparison to PCIA group at most of measured time points while there was not a significant reduction in postoperative MAP and heart rate in the second and third postoperative days. The incidence of other postoperative complications such as DVT, pneumonia and in hospital mortality were decreased in PCEA group.ConclusionPerioperative thoracic epidural analgesia in patients suffering from coronary artery disease subjected to major abdominal cancer surgery reduced significantly postoperative major adverse cardiac events with better pain control in comparison with perioperative IV analgesia.

AimEvaluation of the analgesic efficacy of radiofrequency thoracic sympathectomy for sympathetically maintained post‐mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS).MethodsPatients with PMPS randomized to Group TS (n = 33) received radiofrequency thoracic sympathectomy, and those randomized to Group Sham (n = 33) received no radiofrequency current. Postoperative pain treatment consisted of duloxetine, pregabalin, and tramadol for both groups. The outcome variables were the proportion of patients who showed >50% reduction in their VAS pain score, the pain intensity measured by VAS score, and the global perceived effect (GPE) evaluated during the 6‐month follow‐up period.ResultsA significantly higher proportion of patients experienced >50% reduction in pain in Group TS (Group TS 25/30 [83.3%] vs. Group Sham 18/31 [58%], P = 0.032); the proportion of patients who experienced >50% reduction in their pain without analgesics was significantly higher in Group TS (Group TS 10/25 [40%] vs. Group Sham 0/18 [0%], P = 0.001). Furthermore, the proportion of patients treated with tramadol + duloxetine + pregabalin who experienced >50% reduction in their pain was significantly lower in Group TS (Group TS 0/25 [0%] vs. Group Sham 13/18 [75%], P = 0.001). The VAS pain score was significantly lower in Group TS at 2 weeks and at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months following the procedure. The GPE was significantly higher in Group TS (Group TS median GPE [interquartile range]) 7 [5, 7] vs. Group Sham median GPE [interquartile range]) 5 [4, 6]) P < 0.001).ConclusionsRadiofrequency thoracic sympathectomy for sympathetically maintained PMPS decreased VAS pain scores and reduced the need for anti‐neuropathic drugs, particularly opioid medications, and provided better patient satisfaction.

Objectives: To assess the analgesic efficacy and tolerability of co-administration of pre-emptive single oral dose of sustained release morphine and sub-anesthetic ketamine infusion for modified radical mastectomy (MRM) with axillary evacuation. Methods:Sixty four adult female patients scheduled for MRM were divided to two groups, morphine group (n=32) received preoperative oral sustained release morphine tablet, 30 mg and placebo group (n=32) received placebo tablet. Both groups received preoperative ketamine bolus, 0.5 mg/kg followed by continuous infusion 0.1 mg/kg/h for 24 h postoperatively. VAS pain score, time to first analgesic request, 24 h analgesic consumption were reported. The median (IQ) time to first analgesic request was significantly delayed in morphine group in comparison to placebo group, 11.8 (9.7:14.2) h vs. 2.3 (2.1:2.5) h, (P<0.001).The number (percentage) of patients required paracetamol in the first postoperative 24 h was significantly lower in morphine group in comparison to placebo group, 10 (33%) vs. 30 (100 %) (P<0.001). Conclusion:Analgesic technique based on pre-emptive sustained release oral morphine and perioperative infusion of sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine provides satisfactory analgesia for patients undergoing MRM.