title: Bupivacaine and Kaltostat reduces post-operative donor site pain.
abstract: A prospective double blind controlled trial was carried out to examine the differences in post-operative split skin graft donor site pain between sites dressed with three differently treated types of dressing; a dry calcium alginate dressing (Kaltostat Britcair), a saline moistened Kaltostat dressing and a bupivacaine hydrochloride (0.5%) moistened Kaltostat dressing. There was a significant reduction in post-operative pain in the Kaltostat and bupivacaine group (group 3) at 24 and 48 h when compared to the other two groups (p < 0.04). There was no difference in ease of removal of dressings or the quality of wound healing on day 10 between the three groups. This study demonstrates a significant reduction in post-operative pain in bupivacaine soaked Kaltostat without reducing the beneficial effects of Kaltostat on donor site healing and we recommend its use in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Eadie
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McHugh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000464:Alginates; D001458:Bandages; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006490:Hemostatics; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006490:Hemostatics; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002045:Bupivacaine