Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate intraperitoneal (IP) lidocaine administration and
intravenous (IV) lidocaine infusion for postoperative pain control after cesarean
section.
Study design
This is a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Patients and methods
A total of 165 pregnant full-term women who were indicated for elective cesarean
delivery for various indications were randomized equally to either group C (control, IP
and IV saline), group IP (IP lidocaine administration), or group IV (IV lidocaine infusion).
Five patients were excluded from each group for various reasons. The outcome
measures were postoperative pain scoring, total pethidine consumption, and the need
for postoperative analgesia.
Results
There was significantly reduced visual analogue scale scores after 4 h, total pethidine
consumption in 24 h, time to ambulation, onset of pain relief, and the need for rescue
analgesia in groups IV and IP compared with controls. Postoperative nausea and
vomiting were less frequently noted in groups IP and IV than in group C, but this trend
was not statistically significant.
Conclusion
The IP lidocaine instillation and IV lidocaine infusion significantly reduced
postoperative pain and opioid consumption in women who underwent elective
cesarean section, compared with control infusions.