Preemptive Analgesia Does Not Reduce Pain or Improve Postoperative Functioning

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of preemptive analgesia in gynecologic laparoscopy patients. METHODS: A double-blinded, randomized trial was performed from June 2000 to June 2001. Preoperatively, patients were randomly assigned to 0.25% bupivicaine or normal saline control. Following anesthetic induction, the study drug or a placebo was injected prior to the proposed incisions. RESULTS: Of the 164 patients enrolled, 85 were randomized to the study group and 79 to the control. Age, surgery indication, and estimated blood loss did not vary significantly between groups. Overall mean pain score (± standard error of the mean) for study and control groups did not differ at 4 hours (3.2±0.3 vs 3.2±0.3) or at 24 hours (4.2±0.3 vs 4.2±0.3). Incisional pain scores also did not differ at 4 hours (3.0±0.3 vs 2.7±0.3) or at 24 hours (3.6±0.3 vs 3.6±0.3). Both groups were similar in activity limitation at 24 hours and oral narcotic consumption within 24 hours postoperatively. After stratifying surgery type for level of complexity, no difference was noted between groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis also noted no difference in outcomes. CONCLUSION: Preemptive analgesia in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopy does not reduce postoperative pain or decrease the time to return of normal activities.