title: Pain relief after inguinal hernia repair: a randomized double-blind study.
abstract: A randomized double-blind study was undertaken using 0.5 per cent bupivacaine ilioinguinal field block and oral papaveretum-aspirin tablets to assess pain relief after hernia surgery. A consecutive series of 200 men undergoing repair of a unilateral inguinal hernia underwent random allocation into one of the four groups to receive: bupivacaine and papaveretum-aspirin (group 1), bupivacaine and oral placebo (group 2), saline and papaveretum-aspirin (group 3), or saline and oral placebo (group 4). Patients were prescribed postoperative opiates to be given on demand. Pain levels and mobility were assessed at 6 and 24 h after operation. Patients in group 1 reported significantly less pain, required less additional opiates and had better mobility than those in group 4 (pain score P < 0.001 at 6 h and P = 0.002 at 24 h) and group 3 (P = 0.002 for pain and mobility scores at 6 h). Bupivacaine alone provided good immediate postoperative pain relief (P = 0.002 group 2 versus group 4 at 6 h). The combination of bupivacaine and papaveretum-aspirin provided the best results and is suitable for day-case postoperative analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Maelor General Hospital, Wrexham, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nehra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gemmell
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Pye
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D009892:Opium / Q000009:adverse effects; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D013607:Tablets; D009892:Opium; D001241:Aspirin; D002045:Bupivacaine