Table 2 Perioperative outcomes

Intraoperative oral morphine equivalent dose, median (IQR) mg

50 (30–100)

98 (60–120)

20 (20–60)

Intraoperative intrathecal morphine dose, median (IQR) mcg

–

350 (150–500)

–

Local anaesthetic wound infusion devices (e.g. Painbuster™)

30 (18%)

17 (22%)

Regional local anaesthetic block

13 (8%)

1 (1%)

Intraoperative NSAIDs (COX-1/2 inhibitors)

71 (42%)

22 (28%)

21 (12%)

Intraoperative ketamine

55 (33%)

32 (41%)

12 (7%)

High dependency unit admission

 No

71 (42%)

5 (6%)

10 (6%)

 Planned

95 (57%)

73 (92%)

168 (93%)

 Unplanned

2 (1%)

1 (1%)

2 (1%)

Admitted to high dependency unit intubated

24 (14%)

13 (16%)

14 (8%)

High dependency unit length of stay (days)

1 (0–1)

1 (1–2)

3 (2–4)

Adverse events

 Respiratory depression

9 (5%)

7 (9%)

10 (6%)

 Postoperative nausea and vomiting

93 (55%)

49 (62%)

123 (68%)

 Sedation

1 (1%)

6 (8%)

4 (2%)

 Hypotension

34 (20%)

24 (30%)

113 (63%)

 Ileus

2 (1%)

8 (10%)

13 (7%)

 Urinary retention

3 (2%)

0 (0%)

2 (1%)

Mortality

 In hospital

0 (0%)

1 (1%)

3 (2%)

 At time of data extraction (up to 5 years following surgery)

22 (13%)

13 (16%)

35 (19%)

Hospital length of stay (days)

5 (3–8)

8 (6–12)

13 (9–22)

Opioid on discharge

90 (54%)

42 (54%)

79 (44%)

Neuraxial details

 Thoracic epidural attempted but unable to insert

2

9

 Epidural inserted first pass

129 (72%)

 >1 attempt to insert epidural

50 (28%)

 Epidural used as planned

100 (83%)

 Epidural discontinued early due to poor function

45 (25%)

 Epidural discontinued early due to other reasons

12 (7%)

 Intrathecal injection > 1 attempt to site

15 (19%)

 Intrathecal injection attempt but unable

(0%)