Women with pedicled flaps required
less morphine sulfate (—X = 72.42 mg) during hospitalization
than those with free flaps (—X = 121.32 mg) (p < 0.0005), as
well as a shorter hospital stay (4.72 versus 7.65 days) (p <
0.001). Out of 121 surgeons, 19% (n = 23) said postoperative
pain medicine was required for less than one week, 29% (n =
35) felt it was needed for one week, 38% (n = 46) felt it was
needed for two weeks, and 14% (n = 17) felt their patients
required medication longer than two weeks.