The effects of incisional bupivacaine infusions on postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores after total abdominal hysterectomy

Abstract

AbstractBackground: The aim of this study was to determine opioid requirements and pain intensity scores in patients after a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) administered with a bupivacaine infusion for a 30-hour period, and then to compare the data with that of a control group.Method: This was a prospective, parallel, single-blinded randomised trial which took place at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Johannesburg. Thirty-six consenting patients, who underwent a TAH, were randomised to either having a 0.39% bupivacaine infusion in the incisional site or not. Morphine was administered via a patient-controlled analgesia pump (PCA) for rescue analgesia. Dynamic, static and worst pain scores were assessed one, six and 30 hours after surgery by using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Morphine consumption was recorded at set intervals.Results: There were statistically significant differences between the two groups' dynamic VAS scores in the first hour and at 24 hours and 30 hours; in the static VAS s...