Diseases of the colon and rectum
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Continuous wound infusion of local anesthetic for the control of pain after elective abdominal colorectal surgery.
Local anesthetic wound infusion has been investigated in recent years as a potential alternative to standard analgesic regimens after major surgery. This study investigates the efficacy of a continuous wound infusion of ropivacaine in conjunction with best practice postoperative analgesia after midline laparotomy for abdominal colorectal surgery. ⋯ Management of pain after major abdominal colorectal surgery is best achieved through adopting a multimodal approach to analgesia. Delivery of ropivacaine to midline laparotomy wounds via a Painbuster Soaker device is safe, but we have not demonstrated any significant clinical advantage over current best practice.