THE EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE ADMINISTRATION OF BUPIVACAINE COMPARED WITH ITS POSTOPERATIVE USE

Eighty patients undergoing lower third molar surgery under general ana esthesia were assigned to one of two groups to receive local anaesthet ic blockade either 10 min prior to surgery or after surgery just befor e leaving the operating theatre. Patients in both groups received the local anaesthetic block whilst unconscious. Pain was assessed using vi sual analogue scales at 6 h and 1, 3 and 6 days after surgery. A McGil l Pain Questionnaire was also completed on the morning following surge ry. At no time was it possible to detect any significant difference in pain between the two groups. The administration of local anaesthesia prior to starting surgery does not appear to have any advantage over i ts postoperative administration in patients undergoing this type of su rgery. The local anaesthetic, however, does provide excellent analgesi a during the first few hours following surgery.