The role of bupivacaine in early postoperative pain control after lumbar decompression.
OBJECTIVE
The authors studied the effect of immediate postoperative administration of bupivacaine in patients who underwent a lumbar decompressive procedure.


METHODS
In this randomized double-blind trial, 50 patients who underwent elective lumbar decompression after induction of general anesthetic received a postoperative bilateral paravertebral 40-ml intramuscular application of either saline (0.9%) or bupivacaine (0.25%). For delivering morphine, both groups used a patient-controlled analgesia system for 24 hours postsurgery. Pain scores, 10-cm visual analog scale scores, and morphine consumption were similar between groups with no significant differences (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Results of subgroup analysis suggested strongly that perioperative administration of methylprednisolone in a sustained-release preparation was associated with a reduction in postoperative pain (p<0.05).
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA.
J B
JB
Chadduck
J R
JR
Sneyd
L H
LH
Pobereskin
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone; D002045:Bupivacaine