Background

This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study investigated the efficacy of patient-controlled regional analgesia using an infraclavicular brachial plexus perineural catheter and a portable infusion pump for outpatients undergoing moderately painful, upper extremity orthopedic surgery.

Methods

Preoperatively, patients (n = 30) received an infraclavicular nerve block and perineural catheter. Postoperatively, patients were discharged home with oral narcotics and a portable infusion pump delivering study solution (0.2% ropivacaine or 0.9% saline) via the catheter for 3 days. Investigators and patients were blinded to random group assignment. Daily end points included pain scores at rest and with limb movement, narcotic use and side effects, sleep quality, patient satisfaction, and symptoms of catheter- or local anesthetic-related complications.

Results

Ropivacaine (n = 15) infusion significantly reduced pain compared with saline (n = 15) infusion (P < 0.001). For example, the average pain with movement (scale, 0-10) on postoperative day 1 was 6.1 +/- 2.3 for the saline group versus 2.5 +/- 1.6 for the ropivacaine group (P < 0.001). Oral narcotic use and related side effects were significantly decreased in the ropivacaine group. For example, on postoperative day 1, mean tablet consumption was 5.5 +/- 2.4 and 1.7 +/- 1.6 for the saline and ropivacaine groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Sleep disturbance scores were 10-fold greater for saline administration than for ropivacaine infusion (P < 0.001). Overall satisfaction was significantly greater in the ropivacaine group. No catheter- or local anesthetic-related complications occurred.

Conclusion

After moderately painful orthopedic surgery of the upper extremity, ropivacaine infusion using a portable, mechanical pump and an infraclavicular brachial plexus perineural catheter at home decreased pain, sleep disturbances, narcotic use and related side effects, and improved overall satisfaction.

Unlabelled

In this study, we investigated the efficacy of patient-controlled regional analgesia for outpatients undergoing moderately painful orthopedic surgery of the shoulder. Preoperatively, patients (n = 20) received an interscalene nerve block and perineural catheter. Postoperatively, patients were discharged home with both oral opioids and a portable infusion pump delivering either 0.2% ropivacaine or 0.9% saline, determined randomly in a double-blinded manner. Daily end points included pain scores, opioid use and side effects, sleep quality, and technique complications. Ropivacaine (n = 10) infusion significantly reduced pain compared with saline (n = 10) infusion. The average pain at rest (scale: 0-10) on postoperative day 1 (median, 25th-75th percentiles) was 4.8 (4.0-5.0) for the saline group, versus 0.0 (0.0-2.0) for the ropivacaine group (P < 0.001). Oral opioid use and related side effects were also significantly decreased in the ropivacaine group. On postoperative day 1, median tablet consumption was 8.0 (6.5-9.5) and 0.5 (0.0-1.0) for the saline and ropivacaine groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Sleep disturbance scores were nearly threefold greater on the first postoperative night for patients receiving saline (P = 0.013). We conclude that after moderately painful orthopedic surgery of the shoulder, ropivacaine infusion using a portable infusion pump and an interscalene perineural catheter at home decreased pain, opioid use and related side effects, and sleep disturbances.

Implications

This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study demonstrated that ropivacaine, infused with a portable infusion pump via an interscalene perineural catheter for 3 days at home, significantly decreased postoperative pain after orthopedic surgery of the shoulder. In addition to providing potent analgesia and increasing patient satisfaction, perineural infusion decreased opioid requirements and their associated side effects.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Ambulatory perineural local anesthetic infusion is a relatively new method for providing postoperative analgesia, and many aspects of this technique remain in the domain of conjecture and speculation. This retrospective chart review and survey was undertaken to investigate patients' opinions on various aspects of their ambulatory perineural infusion experience. METHODS:Patients who had received an ambulatory perineural infusion from the University of Florida were identified via pharmacy records. Patients were contacted by phone and were asked various questions regarding their experiences and preferences during and after their perineural infusion. RESULTS:Of 217 patients identified, 215 charts were located and retrieved. Of these, 137 (64%) were successfully contacted and 131 (61%) consented to take part in the survey. More than 97% of patients reported that they felt "safe" during home infusion, that one physician telephone call each night was optimal contact, and that they were comfortable removing the catheter with instructions given over the phone. Only 4% would have preferred to return for catheter removal, and 43% felt that they would have been comfortable with only written instructions for catheter removal. CONCLUSION:This investigation suggests that perineural local anesthetic infusion is generally well tolerated by ambulatory patients.

Background

This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study investigated the efficacy of patient-controlled regional analgesia using a sciatic perineural catheter in the popliteal fossa and a portable infusion pump for outpatients having moderately painful, lower extremity orthopedic surgery.

Methods

Preoperatively, patients (n = 30) received a sciatic nerve block and perineural catheter in the popliteal fossa. Postoperatively, patients were discharged with both oral opioids and a portable infusion pump delivering study solution (0.2% ropivacaine or 0.9% saline) via the catheter for 3 days. Investigators and patients were blinded to random group assignment. Daily end-points included pain scores, opioid use and side effects, sleep quality, and symptoms of catheter- or local anesthetic-related complications.

Results

Ropivacaine (n = 15) infusion significantly reduced pain compared with saline (n = 15) infusion ( < 0.001). For example, the average pain at rest (scale: 0-10) on postoperative day 1 (median, 25th -75th percentile) was 4.0 (3.5-5.5) for the saline group, versus 0.0 (0.0-0.0) for the ropivacaine group (P < 0.001). Oral opioid use and related side effects were significantly decreased in the ropivacaine group. For example, on postoperative day 1, median tablet consumption was 8.0 (5.0-10.0) and 0.0 (0.0-0.0) for the saline and ropivacaine groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Sleep disturbance scores were more than 10-fold greater for saline administration than for ropivacaine infusion (P < 0.001). Overall satisfaction was significantly greater in the ropivacaine group. Other than two inadvertent catheter dislodgements, no catheter- or local anesthetic-related complications occurred.

Conclusions

After moderately painful orthopedic surgery of the lower extremity, ropivacaine infusion using a portable mechanical pump and a popliteal sciatic perineural catheter at home decreased pain, opioid use and related side effects, sleep disturbances, and improved overall satisfaction.