pyrexia of unknown origin, urinary, chest or line), and 17.2% severe (deep infection or septicaemia).Expected Mortality and Morbidity of patients receiving PCA and Epidural were similar (p=0.343 and p=0.348).A greater infection rate is seen with Epidural (45.1%, 18.4% severe) compared to 20% patients receiving PCA, of which none were severe ( 2 : p=0.02).12.5% patients receiving Epidurals experienced hypotension (systolic <90mmHg for >2hrs), and of these 58.9% had septic episodes (p=0.053).Conclusions: In patients undergoing left-sided colonic resection, patients receiving epidural analgesia were more than twice as likely to experience an infective adverse event as those receiving PCA.This may in part be due to hypotensive episodes associated with epidural.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Smith et al. (2001) studied this question.