Question

Your 45 yr. old male patient had knee surgery under epidural analgesia 3 hours ago. He is still receiving opiate pain medication via this route. You know side effects of opiate pain medication include drowsiness, itching, nausea/vomiting, constipation, urinary retention, respiratory depression, and hypotension. Discuss which side effects you are most concerned about in the immediate postoperative period?

Answer 1

The most concerned sideeffect of pain medication is respiratory depression, delayed recovery and sometimes mechanical ventilation also becomes necessary. Capnography accurate tool for measurement of immediate respiratory depression before decreased oxygen saturations or diminished chest excursion. Failure in recognition of respiratory depression and absence of timely management can lead to cardiopulmonary arrest, brain damage and death. Advanced oxygenation and ventilation monitoring and centralized monitoring systems and easy communication with bed side nurses are necessary incase of opiate pain medication in immediate postoperative period.