Comparison of the Leicester Micropalliator and the Cardiff Palliator in the relief of postoperative pain

Abstract

Two devices for providing patient-controlled, on-demand analgesia were compared for 24 h after abdominal surgery. The Leicester Micropalliator delivered a mandatory background infusion of 1 mg h-1 in addition to on demand bolus doses of morphine 2 mg i.v. while the Cardiff Palliator provided only bolus doses of morphine 2 mg i.v. The Leicester Micropalliator provided analgesia superior or equivalent to that of the Cardiff Palliator in patients who had undergone hysterectomy or cholecystectomy, respectively, and there was no increase in side effects. The total doses of morphine administered over 24 h did not differ significantly between the two devices.