Background. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) is a useful and safe treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).\nPain management, during and after PRFA, is a critical component of patient care. Objectives. This study reviewed the efficacy of\nthoracic epidural analgesia, during and after PRFA, for patients with HCC. Study Design. A retrospective, observational chart\nreview. Setting. Tertiary medical center/teaching hospital. Methods. Patients who had undergone PRFA for HCC in the past 5 years\nwere divided into two groups, based on the type of anesthesia administered: thoracic epidural anesthesia group (Group E) and\nlocal anesthesia with monitored anesthesia care group (Group C). We retrospectively reviewed changes in the numeric rating scale\n(NRS) score during and after PRFA, opioid consumption, length of the procedure, length of hospital stay, changes in blood\npressure during PRFA, and the incidence of adverse events. Results. The NRS score in Group E was significantly lower than that in\nGroup C (P < 0.05). The opioid consumption in Group E was lower than that in Group C after PRFA (P <0.05). The procedure\ntime was shorter in Group E (P<0.05). Neither of the groups showed significant difference with respect to the length of hospital\nstay and the incidence of respiratory depression, fever, and blood pressure elevation. The incidence of nausea, vomiting, and\nvoiding difficulty was higher in Group E. Limitations. This study is limited by its retrospective design. Conclusions. Thoracic\nepidural analgesia was associated with shorter procedure times, lower postprocedural pain, and lower opioid consumption during\nand after PRFA for HCC.
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