Metabolites of Tramadol in the Postoperative Surgical Patients

Tramadol is opioid analgesic widely used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is metabolized by cytochrome CYP2D6 into two major metabolites: pharmacologically active metabolite O-desmethyltramadol (M1) and inactive N-desmethyltramadol (M2), respectively. Tramadol kinetics in a population of patients undergoing major abdominal surgical procedures, and in patients with a greater or lesser degree of organic failure, is still not well researched. The investigators will measure plasma concentrations of tramadol and its metabolites after usual tramadol doses in ICU patients after major abdominal surgery. Also analgesic affect and side effect of tramadol will be recorded.