Local anaesthesia in elective inguinal hernia repair: a randomised, double-blind study comparing the efficacy of levobupivacaine with racemic bupivacaine.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the use of infiltration with local anaesthetics levobupivacaine and bupivacaine, during inguinal hernia repair.


METHODS
Double-blind, randomised study.


METHODS
Postgraduate medical school, United Kingdom.


METHODS
69 male patients aged 18 years or older.


METHODS
Wound infiltration with 0.25% levobupivacaine and 0.25% racemic bupivacaine.


METHODS
Area under the curve (AUC) of visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for postoperative pain at rest in the supine position, rising from the supine to the sitting position, and walking, against time for both treatment groups.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between treatment groups for the AUC of VAS scores for postoperative pain, global verbal pain rating or time to first dose of analgesic medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Levobupivacaine exerts a similar anaesthetic and analgesic effect to racemic bupivacaine when infiltrated both intraoperatively and during the early postoperative period for elective inguinal hernia repair.
Kingsnorth
Andrew N
AN
Postgraduate Medical School, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK. andrew.kingsnorth@phnt.swest.nhs.uk
Cummings
Chris G
CG
Bennett
David H
DH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine