Evaluation of dextran with local anaesthesia for short-stay inguinal herniorraphy
Kingsnorth, A.N.; Wijesinha, S.S.; Grixti, C.J.
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 61(6): 456-458
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-8843 PMID: 496237 Document Number: 153097
A prospective randomized study of 40 patients undergoing unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy under local anesthesia was undertaken. Of the patients 1/2 received the local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine) mixed with dextran 40 solution. Subjective and objective assessments were made of the postoperative pain experienced in the first 48 h after surgery. The use of 0.25% bupivacaine local inguinal block causes a postoperative pain-free period of .apprx. 10 h. Simple oral analgesics are adequate for postoperative pain relief in 87.5% of patients and are required infrequently. The addition of dextran 40 to the local anesthetic has no significant effect on its duration of action.