Post-Op Lidocaine Patch

Lidocaine Patch for Adjunct Analgesia for Postoperative Cesarean Birth Patients

Randomized control trial evaluating use of lidocaine vs placebo patch for post-operative cesarean incision pain.

The purpose of this study is to determine if lidocaine patches decrease post-operative pain associated with cesarean births. While the Lidoderm lidocaine patch has been FDA approved for the treatment of skin pain, it has not been studied in women undergoing cesarean birth who experience postoperative pain. Even though this medication has been used in post-operative pain in published studies, the use of this medicine under these circumstances is still considered experimental. A lidocaine patch may provide added benefit for pain control in addition to standard medicines participants would receive after surgery, such as spinal, intravenous, and oral pain medications following cesarean delivery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant patients who require a scheduled or non-urgent cesarean birth
• Patient able to receive neuraxial analgesia
• Patient able to give verbal and written consent for both cesarean birth and study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients requiring emergent cesarean birth
• Patients allergic to lidocaine or adhesive
• Patients who have already received an epidural during this admission or requiring general anesthesia for cesarean birth
• Patients using chronic oral neuromodulators
• Patients with cardiac disease or using anti-arrhythmic agents
• Patients with fibromyalgia or chronic pain syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or lupus.
• Daily narcotic or opiate use for greater than the 2 months prior to enrollment in the study.