Continuous wound infiltration with ropivacaine for analgesia after caesarean section: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the analgesic effect of ropivacaine infiltration into the surgical wound after caesarean section.

METHODS: In a double-blind trial, 67 patients who were scheduled for caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomly assigned to receive either 0.75% ropivacaine or placebo (NaCl 0.9%) through a multi-orifice catheter that was placed into the surgical wound, between the muscle fascia and the subcutaneous tissue. The study drug was administered as a bolus of 10 ml at the end of the operation, followed by an infusion at 2 ml/h for 48 h. All patients were also given paracetamol and ibuprofen. The primary outcome was the total amount of rescue oxycodone needed during the first 48 h post-operatively. Secondary outcomes included pain and patient satisfaction scores. Analyses were according to intention to treat.

RESULTS: The mean (± standard deviation) amount of oxycodone administered during the first 48 h was 47.5 ± 20.9 mg in the ropivacaine group and 57.8 ± 29.4 mg in the placebo group (95% confidence interval for the difference between means, -22.8-2.2 mg; P = 0.10). There were no differences between the groups in pain scores or in patient satisfaction scores.

CONCLUSION: Continuous wound infiltration with ropivacaine did not decrease the need for opioids and had no impact on pain scores or patient satisfaction after caesarean section.