INTERMUSCULAR BUPIVACAINE INFUSION FOR CONTROL OF PAIN AFTER RENAL SURGERY - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Objective To assess the value of continuous bupivacaine wound infusion for post-operative pain relief after renal surgery. Patients and meth ods The analgesic efficacy of continuous intermuscular wound infusion with 0.25% bupivacaine was studied in 10 patients (four men, six women ), with a mean age of 47.5 years (range 25-71) and a mean weight of 71 .2 kg (range 44-99), after renal surgery in a single-blind randomized trial. The results were compared with those of an age- and weight-matc hed control group of 10 patients (five men, five women) with a mean ag e of 47.7 years (range 27-73) and a mean weight of 67.3 kg (range 51-8 5). Post-operative pain was studied objectively by assessing individua l patient's morphine requirements administered via a patient controlle d analgesia system, and subjectively with pain scores. Patient mobilit y was assessed by ward nursing staff using mobility score charts. Resu lts There was a lower demand for post-operative analgesia in the bupiv acaine group compared with the control. Although there was no signific ant difference in the pain scores between the two groups, the bupivaca ine group was significantly more mobile than the control group after s urgery. There was no significant difference in the mean post-operative hospital stay between the two groups. Conclusion Continuous intermusc ular bupivacaine wound infusion is a simple and safe procedure which l owers the patients' post-operative analgesic requirements, allows for earlier mobility and may promote more rapid discharge from hospital.