Table 3.

Number of times PICA was self-administered and rescue analgesia in 48 hours after surgery.

	Dexmedetomidine, n = 24	Epidural blockade, n = 24	Combined, n = 24	Control, n = 24	p-Value
Number of times PICA was self-administered in 48 hours after surgery	4.9 ± 1.4c,d	5.1 ± 1.6c,d	3.2 ± 1.3a,b,d	7.6 ± 1.7a,b,c	<0.001*
Number of times rescue analgesia was administered in 48 hours after surgery, n (%)	3 (12.5%)	4 (16.7%)	1 (4.2%)d	6 (25%)c	0.041#

*: Mean ± SD: one-way analysis of variance,^#: Chi-square test. ^aP < 0.05, compared with the dexmedetomidine group; ^bP < 0.05, compared with epidural blockade group; ^cP < 0.05, compared with combined group; ^dP < 0.05, compared with control group.

PICA, patient-controlled intravenous analgesia; SD, standard deviation.