Functional implications of long-term pain following outpatient inguinal herniorrhaphy--a prospective evaluation.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the present study is to assess pain and functional outcomes at 1 y following inguinal herniorrhaphy in which patients were randomized to receive a continuous wound infusion of bupivacaine to receiving a saline infusion.


METHODS
Patients received saline or bupivacaine prior to incision and then for 60 h postoperatively. The incidence, severity, and functional interference of pain were assessed for five postoperative days, and at 1 y.


RESULTS
Seventy patients completed a survey 1 y following herniorrhaphy. Four percent (3/72) of patients were in moderate to severe pain "almost always" or "often". Twenty-one percent (15/72) of patients experienced pain with ambulation. There was no difference between groups at 1 y.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of moderate or severe pain is concerning 1 y following surgery. Functional aberrations associated with pain should be assessed in all studies evaluating long-term pain after herniorrhaphy.
Russ
Andrew J
AJ
Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin 53792, USA. aruss@uwhealth.org
Faucher
Lee D
LD
Gordon
Debra B
DB
Pellino
Teresa A
TA
Schurr
Michael J
MJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine