(267) Effectiveness of aerosolized intraperitoneal bupivacaine in reducing post-operative pain in pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery

Abstract

Despite the small incisions and shorter hospitalizations associated with laparoscopic surgery, many patients still complain of severe, diffuse abdominal and shoulder pain after surgery. It has been speculated that the peritoneal stretching and diaphragmatic irritation associated with the pneumoperitoneum may be the etiology of this pain. Instillation of local anesthetics into the peritoneal cavity intraoperatively has shown variable efficacy in relieving this type of pain in adults. The authors wished to determine if the recently-described bupivacaine aerosolization technique during laparoscopic surgery would reduce this type of pain in children.