pain relief as well. The usual method used is to provide a continuous infusion of morphine or morphine-like drugs. A new technique has been introduced where an Epidural catheter is introduced near the base of the spine on the night prior to surgery and then used for three days after surgery. In many other forms of surgery, epidural analgesia has made large improvements in pain relief and studies are continuing at the Royal Melbourne Hospital investigating this as a form of pain relief following surgery.
There are several ways to address the issue of postoperative pain. This study focuses on the role of a newly introduced technique of Epidural analgesia for cardiac surgery patients. In other branches of surgery (and obstetrics) epidural analgesia has truly revolutionised the management of pain and also allowed significant changes to the way an anaesthetic is given when surgery is performed.
This institution now has Australia's largest series of patients receiving epidurals in cardiac surgery. Numerous studies are being conducted investigating how this techniques alters the anaesthetic, lung function, degree of pain experienced, the "stress response" caused by pain (and the prevention by treatment of pain) and the affect of pain control on the incidence of postoperative depression.
A randomised prospective study is now being conducted.
Read the Study Background, Protocol, Plain Language Statements, Risk analyses [Restricted]