PATIENT-CONTROLLED ANALGESIA (PCA) LEADS TO MORE POSTOPERATIVE PAIN RELIEF, BUT ALSO TO MORE FATIGUE AND LESS VIGOR

This investigation evaluated patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for su bjective well-being and mood in the postoperative period in comparison with the intramuscular (im) administration of morphine given on deman d. Patients scheduled for elective upper abdominal surgery were assign ed at random to either PCA (n = 17) or im morphine (n = 14). The PCA g roup experienced significantly more pain relief and consumed more morp hine than those who received im morphine. The PCA patients suffered fr om more fatigue and showed less vigour than the im group. Neither preo perative trait anxiety nor locus of control was associated with postop erative pain in either of the groups.