Background: The effect of local infiltration after breast surgery is controversial. This prospective double blind\r\nrandomized study sought to document the analgesic effect of local anaesthetic infiltration after breast cancer\r\nsurgery.\r\nMethods: Patients scheduled for mastectomy or tumorectomy and axillary nodes dissection had immediate\r\npostoperative infiltration of the surgical wound with 20 ml of ropivacaine 7.5 mg.ml-1 or isotonic saline. Pain was\r\nassessed on a visual analogue scale at H2, H4, H6, H12, H24, H72, and at 2 month, at rest and on mobilization of\r\nthe arm. Patientââ?¬â?¢comfort was evaluated with numerical 0-3 scales for fatigue, quality of sleep, state of mood, social\r\nfunction and activity.\r\nResults: Twenty-two and 24 patients were included in the ropivacaine and saline groups respectively.\r\nPostoperative pain was lower at rest and on mobilization at 2, 4 and 6 hour after surgery in the ropivacaine group.\r\nNo other difference in pain intensity and patient ââ?¬Ë?comfort scoring was documented during the first 3 postoperative\r\ndays. Patients did not differ at 2 month for pain and comfort scores.\r\nConclusion: Single shot infiltration with ropivacaine transiently improves postoperative pain control after breast\r\ncancer surgery.
Loading....