Authors: Martin Sollie Camilla Bille
Publish Date: 2016/04/30
Volume: 39, Issue: 4, Pages: 273-278
Abstract
Pain following mastectomy often require use of opioids drugs associated with a significant number of side effects This study investigated the effect of a single perioperative infusion of bupivacaine in the mastectomy cavity on the postoperative outcomes use of opioids pain score and nauseaA reduction in the postoperative use of 61 “oral morphine equivalents” OMEQs was observed in the infusion group in the first 24 h after mastectomy compared to a control group not receiving infusion This corresponds to a reduction of 61 mg of orally administered morphine equivalent to a 52 reduction This was however not statistically significant p = 01208 No statistically significant differences between the two groups were found in visual analogue scale VAS scores for pain and nausea or in the use of other nonopioid analgesicsA single perioperative infusion of bupivacaine may have a morphinesparing effect in the first 24 h after mastectomy Our results were however not statistically significant when tested on these lowpain surgical procedures Infusion of analgesics in surgical cavities is simple fast and low cost It might prevent the often seen vicious cycle of nausea and impaired coping with postsurgical pain when patients are introduced to opioids
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