image: These are members of the research team from Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. view more
Credit: Plymouth University
Patients who arrive at the emergency department (ED) in moderate or severe pain are often given intravenous morphine, administered by a nurse. This is safe and works in the short term but is demanding of nursing time, particularly when repeated doses of painkillers are necessary.
One potential solution is for patients to administer their own pain relief using a patient controlled analgesia (PCA) device. A PCA device is a syringe usually containing morphine that can be connected to a drip in the patient's arm, which allows the patient to deliver their own pain relief by pressing a button. PCA devices are commonly used in other areas of the hospital (typically after an operation), but are not usually used in the ED.
Until now there has been little evidence to support the use of such a method in the emergency setting, and no previous study has assessed its effectiveness in the hours following admission to the ward.
Two randomised controlled trials carried out by NIHR-funded research teams from Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, and managed by the Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit at Plymouth University, have for the first time addressed this 'evidence gap' by assessing patient controlled analgesia in the ED and following admission in two clinical circumstances - patients with pain from traumatic injury and patients with non-traumatic abdominal pain. The studies were conducted in five NHS hospitals in England, and were supported by funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit programme.
The results of the trials, published today, 22nd June 2015, on-line in The BMJ, show that patient controlled analgesia is statistically and clinically superior for patients with non-traumatic abdominal pain when compared with standard methods of pain relief delivery. In patients with pain from traumatic injury, the results were more equivocal and it remains uncertain whether PCA offers any advantages to this group.
Both trials worked with a patient sample of 200, all of whom presented with moderate to severe pain and were expected to be admitted to hospital for at least 12 hours.
The routine care aspect of both trials was based on best current practice using different modes of analgesia according to NHS trust analgesia policy.
The difference was marked in the trial relating to patients presenting with abdominal pain, with PCA users reporting an average total pain score of 35.3 compared with 47.3 for those receiving usual pain relief.
The other trial, involving patients with pain from traumatic injuries, showed that total pain reported by those using PCA and those treated via usual pain relief methods were similar. Those using PCA reported an average total pain score of 44, compared to 47.2 for those who did not.
There were interesting, small yet clinically meaningful, secondary results from the studies. For example, patients in the trauma PCA group were almost twice as likely to be very or perfectly satisfied with their treatment compared with patients receiving routine care.
Professor Jason Smith, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Professor of Emergency Medicine at Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, led the studies.
He said: "We were surprised that these two studies produced quite different results, but there are several possible reasons that have subsequently been suggested. Other factors may be important in patients with traumatic injuries, such as the effect of splinting on limb injuries."
He added: "Notwithstanding, my take on this is that in emergency patients who are in pain (either abdominal pain or pain from traumatic injuries), PCA should be considered as a possible treatment option, particularly in patients whose pain is difficult to manage. We have, on the back of the results of these studies, set up a clinical protocol for the use of PCA in emergency patients at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust."
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For more information about this press release please contact Andrew Gould, andrew.gould@plymouth.ac.uk or Brydie Bruce, brydiebruce@nhs.net
Notes for editors
More information about Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is available at http://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.net.
About Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PU PSMD) focuses on medical, dental and biomedical education and research. In education it takes the lead in using innovative, evidence-based learning techniques which nurture future doctors, dentists and biomedical scientists who are clinically excellent, have immense empathy for those in their care, and who are well-prepared for roles in an ever-changing health service. Research covers the areas of clinical neurosciences; cancer; inflammation, infection and immunity; diagnostics; genomics; stratification; prevention; personalised integrated care; and novel health technologies. The Research Excellence Framework 2014 ranked the organisation top in the UK for the quality of its research outputs. It is one of the lead academic partners in the Alzheimer's Research UK South West Research Network, and one of four Research Centres of Excellence for charity Brain Tumour Research. PU PSMD holds the Athena SWAN Bronze Award. The awards recognise institutional and departmental commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine/dentistry in Higher Education and Research. http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. Since its establishment in April 2006, the NIHR has transformed research in the NHS. It has increased the volume of applied health research for the benefit of patients and the public, driven faster translation of basic science discoveries into tangible benefits for patients and the economy, and developed and supported the people who conduct and contribute to applied health research. The NIHR plays a key role in the Government's strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. For further information, visit the NIHR website (http://www.nihr.ac.uk).