Is local anesthesia or oral analgesics necessary after mini-laparoscopic functional surgery in children and young adults?: A prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND

This prospective, randomized, single-blind trial was to determine if local anesthesia or oral analgesics reduce postoperative pain after mini-laparoscopic functional surgery.

METHODS

One hundred fifteen patients who underwent mini-laparoscopic herniorrhaphy or varicocelectomy were assigned randomly to receive wound infiltration with xylocaine, regular oral analgesics, or a placebo after the procedures. Visual analog pain scores owing to carbon-dioxide irritation and trocar wounds were recorded 2 hours, 1 day, and 1 week after surgery. Levels of pain were measured by a visual analog pain scale. Patients' age, type of procedure, pressure of gas insufflated, length of procedure, dosage of oral/parenteral analgesics, and trocar-related complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between groups in the mean pain scores over trocar wounds 2 hours, 1 day, and 1 week after mini-laparoscopic procedures, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups in satisfaction of pain control regimens. Patients who received local anesthesia required fewer on demand meperidine injections than others.

CONCLUSIONS

Local anesthesia and routine oral analgesic did not significantly reduce postoperative pain after mini-laparoscopic surgeries in children and young adults.