title: Effect of scalp block on postoperative pain relief in craniotomy patients.
abstract: The efficacy of scalp nerve block using 0.5% bupivacaine with adrenaline for postoperative pain relief in craniotomy patients was evaluated in 40 ASA I or II adult patients undergoing supratentorial craniotomy. A standard general anaesthesia technique was followed. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group B received 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:400,000 adrenaline and group S received normal saline with 1:400,000 adrenaline, both after skin closure. Postoperative pain was assessed at 30 seconds and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 hours using a numerical rating scale. Diclofenac IM was administered as rescue analgesia if patients reported a numerical rating scale of 40 or more. Tramadol IV was administered as second rescue analgesia. Sixty per cent of patients in group S experienced moderate to severe pain (numerical rating scale of 40 or more) at some time during the first 12 postoperative hours in comparison to 25% patients in group B. Median pain scores were significantly lower in group B for up to 6 hours. Significantly more patients were pain free up to four hours in group B. Median duration for the requirement of first dose of diclofenac was longer in group B compared to group S (360 min vs 30 min, P < 0.01). The number of doses of diclofenac (5 vs 19) was significantly lower in group B compared to group S (P < 0.01). Tramadol was required by six patients in group S only. Scalp nerve block using 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:400,000 adrenaline decreases the incidence and severity of postoperative pain in patients undergoing supratentorial craniotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bala
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ghai
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Khosla
mesh_terms: D000322:Adrenergic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012535:Scalp / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000322:Adrenergic Agonists; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac; D014147:Tramadol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D002045:Bupivacaine; D004837:Epinephrine