Piirainen P, et al. - In this randomized, double-blind, double-dummy clinical trial including 30 women (aged 24–67 years) undergoing elective gynaecological laparotomy, the analgesic efficacy of epidural was compared with that of intravenous (i.v.) oxycodone at the same dose. Patients were administrated either i.v. saline and epidural oxycodone 0.1 mg·kg^-1 (EPI group; n = 15) or i.v. oxycodone 0.1 mg·kg^-1 and epidural saline (IV group; n = 15). As per outcomes, epidural oxycodone was suggested to be superior in pain management after laparotomy.