Abstract
Background: Effective post-operative pain management is vital for recovery under the ERAS protocol. Inadequate pain control delays mobility, prolongs hospital stay, increases complications, and lowers patient satisfaction. Epidural analgesia offers targeted pain relief with benefits over systemic opioids, including faster mobilization, quicker bowel recovery, and reduced opioid use, though it requires skilled administration due to potential risks.
Methodology: This prospective comparative cohort study included 150 patients undergoing elective major abdominal or lower-limb surgery over six months. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received epidural analgesia, while Group B received systemic opioid-based analgesia. Pain was measured using the Visual Analog Scale at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours post-surgery. Other outcomes evaluated included bowel function recovery, ambulation time, hospital stay, complications, and patient satisfaction. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with p < 0.05 considered.
Results: showed that epidural patients experienced lower pain scores, earlier mobilization, and faster gastrointestinal recovery within 48 hours (p < 0.01). They also had fewer pulmonary complications and lower rates of deep vein thrombosis. Patient satisfaction was higher in the epidural group.
Conclusion: post-operative epidural analgesia provides superior pain control and better clinical outcomes than systemic opioids, supporting its use in appropriate surgical patients. Further research is recommended to assess cost-effectiveness and long-term benefits.