ACTA ONCOLOGICA TURCICA, vol.56, no.2, pp.125-135, 2023 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Introduction: Mucositis is one of the major complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation with myeloablative conditioning. Several measures have been developed to improve pain
palliation and quality of life in transplant recipients. This study was performed to evaluate the
association of opioid administration using patient controlled analgesia (PCA) method with early
posttranplant complications.
Materials and Methods: Medical records of 452 patients [median age: 35(15-67) years, male/female:
285/167] were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: PCA was used in 157 patients (34.7%) for median 9(1-24) days. The proportion of patients
who received myeloablative conditioning regimen was significantly higher in PCA+ group (p<0.001).
Severe mucositis was more common in patients who required PCA administration (p<0.001). Total body
irradiation (p<0.001) and methotreaxate prophylaxis (p<0.001) were more frequently used in PCA+
patients. Hypoxia, bleeding, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, invasive fungal infections, neurotoxicity,
hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were significantly more common in PCA+ patients. Duration of
hospitalization was significantly longer in PCA+ group (p<0.001).
Discussion: Opioid administration with PCA, which was more frequently used in patients who had
myeloablative conditioning and mucositis, was found to be associated with the development of early
posttransplant complications.