Secondary outcomes
We measured the levels of pain
experienced at rest (shoulder-tip and abdominal pain) at 3, 8, and 24
hours after surgery. We also estimated the level of abdominal pain felt
with change of position at 24 hours after surgery. To account for the
total pain experience, we calculated the sum of VAS scores given at any
time point.
Post-operative analgesic treatment was also measured, both in recovery
and post-operative ward.
We estimated the amount of pain treatment given during recovery in two
different methods: First, we calculated the Morphine Milligram
Equivalents (MME) given during recovery. The conversion factors for
parenteral Morphine and Meperidine were 3 and 0.4 respectively18.
Also, we created an Analgesic index, such that a patient was scored
according to the amount of analgesics given during recovery: one point
for paracetamol treatment, 1 point for Dipyrone treatment,1 point for
Meperidine treatment, 1 point for parenteral Morphine up to 2 mg, 2
points for 3-5 mg and 3 points for more than 5 mg.
Additionally, we recorded prescriptions for analgesics in general and
particularly opiates (Tramadol Hydrochloride) at 3,8 and 24 hours
post-surgery.