Effect of patient-controlled epidural compared to intravenous analgesia in addition to single-shot anterior abdominal wall nerve blocks on morphine consumption and pain in patients undergoing open liver resections

Although epidural group required substantially less morphine over the first 3 postoperative days than IV-PCA and IV-PCA + NBs groups, pain assessment by NRS scores were comparable among the three groups on postoperative day 1, 2 and 3 both at rest and on movement. Overall postoperative outcomes were not significantly different based on method of analgesia after adjusting for preoperative factors including the extent of hepatic resection. Therefore, IV-PCA + NB appeared to be an adequate alternative to epidural analgesia for postoperative pain control in patients receiving open liver resections.