HEALTH

Finding the Better Pain Relief for Ear Surgeries

Wed Jul 02 2025

Study Overview

  • Objective: Compare the effectiveness of the superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB) and intravenous morphine for pain management after ear surgeries.
  • Participants: 100 patients, divided into two groups:
  • Group 1: Received the nerve block.
  • Group 2: Received morphine.

Key Findings

  • Pain Scores: The nerve block group reported lower pain levels for up to 24 hours post-surgery.
  • Additional Medication: The nerve block group required less additional pain medication.
  • Duration of Relief: The nerve block provided longer-lasting pain relief compared to morphine.
  • Surgery Duration: Surgeries in the morphine group took longer, though the reason is unclear.
  • Side Effects: Both groups had similar rates of nausea, vomiting, and sedation.

Conclusion

  • The nerve block was not worse than morphine for pain relief after ear surgeries.
  • Potential Alternative: The nerve block could be a viable alternative to morphine for postoperative pain management.
  • Further Research Needed: More studies are required to confirm and expand these findings.

questions

    How reliable are the VAS scores as a measure of postoperative pain, and are there any alternative methods that could provide more accurate data?
    Could the longer duration of surgery in the morphine group be a result of deliberate manipulation to favor SCPB?
    What is the impact of SCPB on the recovery time and hospital stay compared to intravenous morphine?

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