Intravenous esmolol versus ropivacaine abdominal wound infiltration for postoperative analgesia after inguinal herniotomy : a randomized controlled trial

Abstract EN

Objectives This study was designed as a randomized comparison of postoperative pain after inguinal herniotomy in patients treated with intravenous esmolol and others treated with ropivacaine abdominal wound infi ltration.

Patients and methods Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II patients undergoing herniotomy and anesthetized with isofl urane were randomized into one of two groups.

Group R received 20 ml of ropivacaine 0.75% in 20 ml of saline 0.9% preincisional wound infi ltration and group E patients received a bolus of esmolol 0.5 mg/kg intravenous at induction followed by an infusion of 5–15 mg/kg/min.

After surgery, a bolus of pethidine was given according to visual analogue scale for pain intensity.

Results Patients in group E had lower pain scores than patients in group R.

Median consumption of pethidine was higher in group R than in group E.

Conclusion Intravenous esmolol reduces pethidine consumption and provides more analgesia compared with preincisional ropivacaine infi ltration in patients undergoing herniotomy.