%0 Journal Article %A Wehbe, Salim A. %A Ghulmiyyah, Labib M. %A Dominique, El-Khawand H. %A Hosford, Sarah L. %A Ehleben, Carole M. %A Saltzman, Steven L. %A Sills, Eric Scott %D 2019 %T Prospective randomized trial of iliohypogastric-ilioinguinal nerve block on post-operative morphine use after inpatient surgery of the female reproductive tract. %U https://repository.rcsi.com/articles/journal_contribution/Prospective_randomized_trial_of_iliohypogastric-ilioinguinal_nerve_block_on_post-operative_morphine_use_after_inpatient_surgery_of_the_female_reproductive_tract_/10787831 %2 https://repository.rcsi.com/ndownloader/files/19300520 %K Adult %K Analgesics %K Opioid %K Double-Blind Method %K Female %K Gynecologic Surgical Procedures %K Humans %K Laparotomy %K Middle Aged %K Morphine %K Nerve Block %K Pain %K Postoperative %K Obstetrics and Gynaecology %X

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of pre-operative and intra-operative ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block on post-operative analgesic utilization and length of stay (LOS).

METHODS: We conducted a prospective randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial to assess effectiveness of ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric nerve block (IINB) on post-operative morphine consumption in female study patients (n = 60). Patients undergoing laparotomy via Pfannenstiel incision received injection of either 0.5% bupivacaine + 5 mcg/ml epinephrine for IINB (Group I, n = 28) or saline of equivalent volume given to the same site (Group II, n = 32). All injections were placed before the skin incision and after closure of rectus fascia via direct infiltration. Measured outcomes were post-operative morphine consumption (and associated side-effects), visual analogue pain scores, and hospital length of stay (LOS).

RESULTS: No difference in morphine use was observed between the two groups (47.3 mg in Group I vs. 45.9 mg in Group II; p = 0.85). There was a trend toward lower pain scores after surgery in Group I, but this was not statistically significant. The mean time to initiate oral narcotics was also similar, 23.3 h in Group I and 22.8 h in Group II (p = 0.7). LOS was somewhat shorter in Group I compared to Group II, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.8). Side-effects occurred with similar frequency in both study groups.

CONCLUSION: In this population of patients undergoing inpatient surgery of the female reproductive tract, utilization of post-operative narcotics was not significantly influenced by IINB. Pain scores and LOS were also apparently unaffected by IINB, indicating a need for additional properly controlled prospective studies to identify alternative methods to optimize post-surgical pain management and reduce LOS.

%I Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland