Postoperative analgesia
Postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain, cough, PONV, NRS
All patients received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with a standard regimen of hydromorphone (no basal infusion, 0.2 mg bolus and 10-min lockout intervals). Patients were educated on how to evaluate pain intensity and use PCIA properly by professional staff the day before surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed using a 10-point numeric rating scale (NRS) at rest and cough at 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery. An oral polypill consisting of oxycodone (5 mg) and acetaminophen (325 mg) was given as rescue analgesia for moderate to severe pain (pain score of 4 or greater at any time within 48 h). Intravenous tropisetron (5 mg) was used to treat postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).