Table 4 Characteristics of the nociceptive and the analgesic block in the TEA (thoracic epidural anaesthesia) and the ITM (intrathecal morphine) group. iRA, intraoperative rescue analgesia; min, minutes; pRA, postoperative rescue analgesia; n, number; GPS, Glasgow pain score; T, time

iRA (%)

8/18 (44.4)

18/18 (100)

<0.001

Median time to first fentanyl bolus (min)

50 (15-120)

7.5 (1-85)

<0.001

Median fentanyl after surgical opening (μg /kg)

0 (0-3)

7 (0-31.1)

< 0.001

pRA (%)

2/18 (11.1)

10/18 (55.5)

0.01

Total methadone administrations (n)

3

19

GPS T1h

1 (1-7)

4 (1-12)

<0.01

GPS T2h

1 (1-4)

3 (1-9)

<0.001

GPS T4h

1 (1-5)

3 (1-8)

<0.001

GPS T6h

1 (1-5)

2 (1-8)

0.01

GPS T8h

1 (1-4)

2 (1-7)

0.01

GPS T12h

1 (0-3)

2 (1-9)

0.31

GPS T24h

1 (0-4)

2 (0-7)

0.08