Comparison of the postoperative analgesic effects of bupivacaine and ropivacaine in infraorbital nerve block anesthesia for cheiloplasty in infants.

OBEJECTIVE: This prospective study aimed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine and bupivacaine for infraorbital nerve block following cheiloplasty. Additionally, it investigated the safety and feasibility of these agents in infants and young children.

METHODS

Participants were divided into three groups: Control (physiological saline), Group L (ropivacaine), and Group B (bupivacaine). Bilateral infraorbital nerve block anesthesia was performed at the beginning of surgery, followed by general anesthesia for the procedure. Postoperative pain was scored using the FLACC scale.

RESULTS

Group B had a significantly lower heart rate post-surgery compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). FLACC pain scores at 30 min, 1 h, and 4 h post-surgery were significantly lower in Groups L and B compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Side effects included edema, hematoma, nausea, vomiting, cyanosis, and convulsions, with no adverse reactions in the control group. Group L had one case of lip cyanosis and convulsions, and Group B had one case of nausea and vomiting. No significant differences were found in age, weight, and surgical time among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Ropivacaine showed similar analgesic effects to bupivacaine but with higher safety for postoperative pain relief in cleft lip repair in infants and young children, suggesting its clinical utility.