Patient-controlled Analgesia with Target-controlled Infusion of Hydromorphone in Postoperative Pain Therapy.

Background: Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is a common method for postoperative pain therapy, but it is characterized by large variation of plasma concentrations. PCA with target-controlled infusion (TCI-PCA) may be an alternative. In a previous analysis, the authors developed a pharmacokinetic model for hydromorphone.

Population pharmacokinetic modeling of hydromorphone in cardiac surgery patients during postoperative pain therapy.

Background: Hydromorphone is a µ-selective opioid agonist used in postoperative pain therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone in cardiac surgery patients during postoperative analgesia with target-controlled infusion and patient-controlled analgesia.

Methods: In this study, 50 adult patients were enrolled to receive intravenous hydromorphone during postoperative pain therapy.