Measuring the quality of continuous epidural block for abdominal surgery

In view of the wide variation in pain experience between patients, a clinical standard—the time from the end of surgery to the first experience of pain—was applied to 1359 consecutive patients in order to investigate whether the initial quality of epidural block has an effect on the overall quality of postoperative pain relief. Clinical data were recorded in 58 118 out of 72 412 h in 1359 patients, and transferred to a database. Data collected included pain scores on a four-point verbal rating scale; nausea and vomiting; motor block; sedation scores; systolic blood pressure