Abstract: ObjectiveTo compare the effects of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) on postoperative nausea and vomit (PONV) in gynecologic and obstetric patients. Methods56 gynecologic or obstetric patients (ASA Ⅰ～Ⅱ) scheduled for lower abdominal surgeries were randomly allocated to receive either 1 mg/ml morphine plus 0.1 mg/ml droperidol intravenously (group PCIA) or 0.1 mg/ml morphine plus 0.125% bupivacaine (group PCEA-Ⅰ) or 0.1 mg/ml morphine plus 0.1 mg/ml droperidol plus 0.125% bupivacaine (group PCEA-Ⅱ) epidurally. 4, 24, and 48 h after operation, pain scores with visual analogus scale (VAS), sedation scores with Ramesay and the incidences of nausea, vomiting, pruritus, respiratory depression were assessed. ResultsVAS scores in the two PCEA groups were much lower than that of PCIA (P<0.01). The incidences of nausea and vomiting in PCEA-Ⅱ group were significantly lower than those in PCIA group (P<0.05), incidences of other side-effects such as pruritus, respiratory depression etc. were similar between the three groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe regimen morphine/droperidol/bupivacaine by PCEA shows superiorities in relieving pain and reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in gynecologic and obstetric patients.

Key words: patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA), patient-controlled epidural analgesia(PCEA), postoperative pain, gynecology, obstetrics, nausea, vomit