Postoperative analgesia after cesarean section by continued administration of levobupivacaine with the On-Q Painbuster system over the fascia vs ketorolac + morphine i.v.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to detect if continuous local infusion of levobupivacaine with the On-Q Painbuster system provided postoperative analgesia of similar quality to morphine + ketorolac i.v. in patients undergoing cesarean section.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using a randomized prospective double-blind study, 20 women undergoing cesarean section with a standardized spinal technique were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either 10 mg morphine + 120 mg ketorolac + saline solution up to 96 ml with an elastomeric pump i.v. (group A) or local infusion of levobupivacaine 0.2% with the On-Q PAINBUSTER system (group B). Both groups were administered ketorolac i.v. in bolus in case of pain.

RESULTS

The two groups differed in their VAS scores with group A experiencing significantly less pain than group B; the consumption of analgesics was significantly lower in group A than in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

The i.v. system with morphine and ketorolac is more effective than levobupivacaine subcutaneous infusion in reducing postoperative pain associated with cesarean section.