Korean J Anesthesiol.  2004 Apr;46(4):430-433. 10.4097/kjae.2004.46.4.430.

Relationship Between Pain Threshold and Postoperative Morphine Requirement

• Kim DH
• Lee KH
• Cho DS
• Jeong HJ
• Kim JH
• Lee SA
• Rho JY
• Min HK
• Ryu JH

• KMID: 2299054
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2004.46.4.430

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Variability in pain sensitivity is a well known phenomenon. The variability also extends to experimental stimuli and postoperative opioid requirement. But the report of the relationship between pain threshold and postoperative opioid requirement is very rare.
METHODS
We investigated prospectively the association between pressure pain threshold and postoperative morphine requirement. We estimated pressure pain threshold by using pressure algometer and adopted PCA to treat postoperative pain.
RESULTS
In this study the relationship between pain threshold and postoperative opioid requirement was significant. But the correlation was weak negative (Pearson r = -0.273, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Considering other associated factors which affect postoperative pain, although correlation between pain threshold and postoperative opioid requirement was significant but we concluded that clinical relevance of pain threshold is uncertain.

Keyword

pressure pain threshold; postoperative morphine requirement

MeSH Terms

Morphine*
Pain Threshold*
Pain, Postoperative
Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis
Prospective Studies
Morphine