Efficacy of Intraperitoneal Versus Intravenous Lidocaine for Postcesarean Pain Relief

Efficacy of Intraperitoneal Versus Intravenous Lidocaine for Postcesarean Pain Relief

Objective: To evaluate intraperitoneal (IP) lidocaine administration and intravenous (IV) lidocaine infusion for postoperative pain control after cesarean section.

Study design: prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients and methods: Initially, 165 pregnant full-term females, indicated to be underwent elective cesarean delivery for various indications were randomized equally to either group C (control, IP and IV saline), group IP (intraperitoneal lidocaine administration), or group IV (intravenous lidocaine infusion).Five patients were excluded from each group for various reasons. The outcome measures were postoperative pain scoring, total pethidine consumption and the need for postoperative analgesia.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Singleton pregnancy, more than or equal completed 37 gestational weeks, indicated to undergo elective cesarean delivery for various indications

Exclusion Criteria:

• extreme of age (below 18 or above 40 year), uncooperative patients, women under spinal anesthesia, previous abdominal scars, including previous cesarean or myomectomy, multiple gestation, BMI >35 kg/m², chorioamnionitis, hypersensitivity or contraindications to lidocaine, bronchial asthma, bleeding diathesis, pregnancy induced-hypertension, liver or kidney diseases, diabetes mellitus, and patients with psychological disturbance, or any form of chronic pain before or during pregnancy.