The analgesic efficacy of local anesthetics for the incisional administration following port access heart surgery: bupivacaine versus ropivacaine.
BACKGROUND
To avoid large dose opioids, the authors investigated an alternative method for postoperative pain relief after Port Access cardiac surgery.


METHODS
Out of 104 patients who underwent Port Access heart surgery, 78 patients who were extubated in the operating room were enrolled in the retrospective study. The standardized fast track cardiac anesthesia was used for all patients, and the catheter was placed in the surgical wound at the end of the operation. Analgesia was started with a bolus of bupivacaine (B group) or ropivacaine (R group) through the catheter and followed by continuous infusion of local anesthetic. The variables recorded were visual analogue scale (VAS) at extubation and during the first 24 hours, additional requirements of local anesthetic (LA), and opioid analgetic. Possible complications that could be connected with the catheter in the wound or with the administration of LA were recorded as well.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference between the R and B groups in mean pain score at extubation and in the first 24 hours. The groups were also comparable concerning the need for bolus application of the LA and opioid analgetic. The microbiological analysis of 9 randomly chosen catheter tips from both groups was sterile.


CONCLUSIONS
Both local anesthetics, ropivacaine and bupivacaine, are equally effective for pain relief after Port Access cardiac surgery. The catheter in surgical incision and application of LA through it does not increase the risk for wound infection and does not interfere with wound healing.
Sostaric
Maja
M
Clinical Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia. maja.sos@siol.net
Gersak
Borut
B
Novak-Jankovic
Vesna
V
D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D020708:Thoracoscopes; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine