Klotz R, Larmann J, Klose C, et al. - Researchers investigated gastrointestinal complications after pancreatic surgery in correlation with receiving postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) vs perioperative thoracic epidural analgesia (EDA). In this randomized clinical trial, analysis was performed on 248 patients who were scheduled for elective pancreatoduodenectomy and were randomized to receive PCIA or EDA. Patients receiving postoperative PCIA and those receiving perioperative thoracic EDA did not differ regarding the primary end point of gastrointestinal complications after pancreatic surgery. Per outcomes, the 2 methods are comparable in terms of effectiveness and safety. Hence concerns regarding gastrointestinal complications should not form the basis for making the choice between the two methods.