Abstract ID: A10

Abstract Title: Efficacy of Continuous Local Anesthetic Infusion for Postoperative Pain after Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Poster Type: Either

ABSTRACT BODY

Introduction:
We hypothesized that a subfascial continuous infusion of local anesthetic in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy would result in reduction in postoperative opioid requirements and improvement in pain scores.
Materials and Methods:
This was a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in patients undergoing elective radical retropubic prostatectomy. A small catheter was placed subfascially at the end of surgery and attached to an elastomeric pump, which administered either 0.5% bupivacaine or normal saline into the wound at a rate of 2 ml/h until discharge on postoperative day 3. Outcomes assessed included dosage of hydromorphone used by a patient-controlled analgesic system, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain at rest and with activity, VAS nausea, and length of hospital stay. A total of 100 patients were successfully randomized with all patients completing the protocol.
Results:
A total of 100 patients were enrolled in the study. Demographic data are shown in Table 1. There were no differences between the groups with regard to VAS pain at rest, VAS pain with activity, intravenous or oral analgesic consumption, or VAS nausea scores (Table 2).
Discussion:
Continuous subfascial infusion of local anesthetics did not result in a postoperative reduction in opioid requirements or improvement in pain scores in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy.

ATTACHED FILES

A10_rrp-local anesthetic-pain-table 1.doc

A10_rrp-local anesthetic-pain-table 2.doc

Reg Anesth Pain Med 2004; 29(2):A10