title: Preemptive analgesia in patients undergoing appendectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of preemptive analgesia in patients who were undergoing an operation for acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, randomized control trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who presented with presumed appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received 1 of the following treatments: group 1, preemptive analgesia with a combination of lidocaine hydrochloride and bupivacaine hydrochloride; group 2, preemptive analgesia with saline solution; or group 3, nothing.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, analgesic requirements, number of analgesic doses required, and length of hospital stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were noted in postoperative pain, the total number of analgesic doses per day, the quantity of narcotic medication administered, and the length of hospital stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with healthy control subjects, preemptive analgesia did not reduce postoperative pain, reduce analgesic requirements, or shorten the length of hospital stay in patients who underwent an appendectomy. Premptive analgesia may be applicable only for patients without preoperative pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, USA.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alcantara
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hiyama
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D002045:Bupivacaine