Tramadol for the Treatment of Catheter-related Bladder Discomfort

A Randomized Controlled Trial

Shuying Li; Liping Song; Yushan Ma; Xuemei Lin

BMC Anesthesiol. 2018;18(194)

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Background: Intra-operative urinary catheterization frequently causes postoperative catheter related bladder discomfort (CRBD) during recovery. We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of tramadol, which with muscarinic receptor antagonist property, as a treatment for CRBD.

Methods: Ninety patients who underwent elective gynecological surgery and complained of CRBD in the (PACU) were randomized into three groups of 30 each. Group A received normal saline, group B 1 mg/kg tramadol, and group C 1.5 mg/kg tramadol. The medication was administered from the Murphy's dropper with a slow drip, and the severity of CRBD (none, mild, moderate, and severe) and postoperative pain were assessed after 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 6 h.

Results: The severity of CRBD was reduced in group C compared with that in groups A and B at 1 h, and in groups C and B compared with that in group A at 2 h. The incidence of CRBD was reduced in group C compared with that in groups A and B at 2 h, and in group C compared with that in group A at 6 h. The visual analog scale (VAS) was reduced in group C compared with that in groups A and B at all time intervals. No differences in adverse effects were observed.

Conclusions: Tramadol 1.5 mg/kg was more effective than tramadol 1 mg/kg in treating CRBD and reducing postoperative pain, without significant side effects.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Next Section

Abstract and Introduction
Background
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References

Table 1. Patients characteristics and clinical data
	Group A	Group B	Group C
Number of patients (n)	30	30	30
Age (year)	35.9 ± 7.7	37.0 ± 8.2	36.6 ± 9.0
Weight (kg)	56.7 ± 5.2	55.3 ± 4.4	55.6 ± 5.2
Duration of surgery (min)	118.3 ± 32.8	122.0 ± 34.9	121.2 ± 35.8
Intra-operative sufentanil requirement (ug)	25.5 ± 7.4	26.0 ± 8.0	25.3 ± 8.1

Table 2. Incidence and severity of CRBD presented as numbers (n)
Time	T0			T1			T2			T3			T4
Group	A	B	C	A	B	C	A	B	C	A	B	C	A	B	C
Severity
No				0	0	0	0	0	7	5	4	13*	16	23	26***
Mild				0	0	6	6	10	14*	8**	18	13	12	7	4
Moderate	26	25	22	26	27	24	22	20	9	17**	8	4	2	0	0
Severe	4	5	8	4	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

*P < 0.05 for comparison between group C vs groups A and B. **P < 0.05 for comparison between group A vs groups B and C. ***P < 0.05 for comparison between group A vs group C. T0: 0 h, T1: 0.5 h, T2: 1 h, T3: 2 h, T4: 6 h postoperatively