title: The Effects of Intravenous Lidocaine Infusions on the Quality of Recovery and Chronic Pain After Robotic Thyroidectomy: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Study.
abstract: The effect of the systemic lidocaine on postoperative recovery has not been definitively investigated despite its analgesic efficacy after surgery. The aim of this randomized, double-blinded, controlled study was to evaluate the effect of intravenously administered lidocaine on the quality of recovery and on acute and chronic postoperative pain after robot-assisted thyroidectomy.
  
  
  
  Ninety patients who were undergoing robotic thyroidectomy were randomly assigned to the lidocaine or the control groups. The patients received 2 mg/kg of lidocaine followed by continuous infusions of 3 mg/kg/h of lidocaine (Group L) or the same volume of 0.9% normal saline (Group C) intravenously during anesthesia. The acute pain profiles and the quality of recovery, which was assessed using the quality of recovery-40 questionnaire (QoR-40), were evaluated for 2 days postoperatively. Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) and sensory disturbances at the surgical sites were evaluated 3 months after surgery.
  
  
  
  The QoR-40 and pain scores that were assessed during the 2 days that followed surgery were largely comparable between the groups. However, CPSP was more prevalent in the Group C than in the Group L (16/43 vs. 6/41; p = 0.025). The tactile sensory score 3 months after the operation was significantly greater in the Group L than in the Group C (7 vs. 5; p = 0.001).
  
  
  
  Systemic lidocaine administration was associated with reductions in CPSP and sensory impairment after robot-assisted thyroidectomy although it was not able to reduce acute postsurgical pain or improve the quality of recovery. Trial registry number NCT01907997 ( http://clinicaltrials.gov ).
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwan Woong
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kee-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Rim
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Woong Youn
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. neogens@yuhs.ac.|Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. neogens@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine