RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF LOCAL-ANESTHETIC INFUSION IN DAY-CASE INGUINAL-HERNIA REPAIR

Background This study investigated the efficacy of local anaesthetic w ound perfusion following daycase inguinal hernia repair. Methods Seven ty-two patients entered a randomized controlled trial with three patie nt groups: group 1, pump containing bupivacaine; group 2, pump contain ing normal saline; and group 3, control group without a pump. All pati ents had a Lichtenstein hernia repair together with ilioinguinal and i liohypogastric nerve blocks and were prescribed oral analgesia. Postop erative pain was assessed over 5 days using a visual analogue scale. R esults Patients who had a local anaesthetic infusion had significantly less pain than either the placebo or control groups. This was greates t during the first 48 h (day 1, P = 0.028 and 0.011 respectively; day 2, P = 0.012 and 0.037 respectively). Conclusion A portable infusion p ump for the delivery of local anaesthetic reduced pain after day-case inguinal hernia repair.