Fig. 1. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores at rest (A ) and during coughing (B ) beginning 4 h and up to 72 h postoperatively, for patients of the two groups: patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) or preemptive analgesia (PA) plus PCEA. Pain intensity was significantly greater in patients of the PCEA group throughout the observation period, both at rest and during coughing. Values are mean (±SEM).