Scand J Plast Recons
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Scand J Plast Recons · Mar 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialBilateral infraorbital nerve block is superior to peri-incisional infiltration for analgesia after repair of cleft lip.
Cleft lip repair is a common operation in infants and requires that the child is pain-free during the postoperative period so that handling does not affect the integrity of the delicate surgical site. This study was designed to compare the efficacy and duration of effect of 0.125% bupivacaine given preoperatively as a bilateral infraorbital nerve block with peri-incisional infiltration of the same local anaesthetic for postoperative analgesia in cleft lip repair. It was a randomised, double blind, prospective study in 30 children aged 4-20 months (ASA grade 1). ⋯ The analgesic requirement in group B became significant at two hours postoperatively, while group A had significant analgesic requirements only after eight hours. The significant rise in heart rate and blood pressure that accompanied tracheal intubation in both groups suggested that while both methods of analgesia may be adequate to prevent responses to skin incision, they do not substitute for adequate systemic analgesia during the operation. We conclude that infraorbital nerve block with 0.125% bupivacaine provides better and more prolonged analgesia than peri-incisional infiltration in cleft lip repair.