Abbas Moallemy - Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Farnoosh Frahini Esfahany - Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Fereydoon Fekrat - Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Alireza Abdollazadeh Baghaei - Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Management Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.

Background: This study compares patients’ satisfaction with patient-controlled analgesia versus intrathecal opioid injection after cesarean section in Shariati and Khalij Fars hospitals in Bandar Abbas City, Iran, from ۲۰۱۶ to ۲۰۱۷.  Methods: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial included ۶۰ women with term pregnancies scheduled for elective cesarean section in Shariati and Khalij Fars hospitals in Bandar Abbas City, Iran, from ۲۰۱۷ to ۲۰۱۸. The patients were randomized into two groups: One group received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), and the other group received intrathecal opioid injection. A numerical rating scale was used to assess pain and patient satisfaction. The patients also reported nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version ۲۵.  Results: Nausea and or vomiting did not differ significantly between the groups (P=۰.۴۶). The highest frequency of pruritus was observed in the PCA group at ۱ (P=۰.۴۴), ۴ (P=۱.۰۰), and ۲۴ (P=۰.۲۴) h after surgery. Patient satisfaction was higher in the intrathecal opioid group (۹.۲۳±۱.۲۲) compared to the PCA group (۸.۸۴±۱.۲۲); however, the difference between groups was not statistically significant (P=۰.۰۸).  Discussion: The results of the current study showed that despite the novelty of PCA, this method is not superior to conventional methods such as intrathecal opioid injection for pain relief. Also, patient satisfaction was lower with PCA compared to intrathecal opioids.

Cesarean section, Patient-controlled analgesia, Intrathecal injection