Leung et al Anaesthesia and Intnesive Care 28:510-15.

Reviewed by: F. Spielman, MD

In a double-bind placebo-controlled randomized trial, the analgesic effect of preoperative bupivacaine 0.25% for skin incision (approximately 30cc) was compared to normal saline. The infiltration was done after the induction of general anesthesia. All patients received postoperative patient-controlled analgesia with morphine and were followed for 72 hours. Significant outcome parameters including pain scores as well as morphine consumption were compared between the two groups. No statistically significant differences were found. The investigators concluded that local anesthetic infiltration is not effective in reducing pain after abdominal hysterectomy.