Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of continuous wound infusion of ropivacaine for postoperative pain relief after open hepatectomy.
Methods: From May 2011 to December 2012, 60 patients undergoing open hepatectomy were randomized into normal saline continuous infusion group (n = 30) and 0.3% ropivacaine continuous infusion group (n = 30). The following variables were recorded for the 48 hours postoperatively: pain scores at rest and sedation score every 8 hours, total sufentanil consumption, first postoperative bowel movement, length of hospitalization, nausea and vomiting score, liver function change and other adverse events were also recorded.
Results: Pain scores at rest were lower for the ropivacaine group and reached significance after 8 h (all P < 0.05). The values of sufentanil consumption ((43.8 ± 21.8) vs (78.2 ± 35.2) µg, P < 0.01), time to bowel recovery ((1.2 ± 0.4) vs (1.5 ± 0.5) days, P < 0.01) and mean length of hospitalization ((6.1 ± 2.6) vs (7.6 ± 2.9) days, P < 0.05) decreased significantly. Sedation score and liver function recovery were better in ropivacaine group. No surgical wound infection occurred in either group.
Conclusion: Surgical wound infusion with ropivacaine is safe and effective. And it improves postoperative pain relief and accelerates patients recovery and discharge with less damage to liver function.