The Effects of Preincisional Levobupivacaine Infiltration on Extubation Comfort, Postoperative Recovery and Visual Analogue Scale in Appendectomy Patients.

OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to determine the effect of preincisional 0.25% levobupivacaine infiltration on extubation comfort, postoperative recovery and visual analogue scale (VAS) in appendectomy patients. METHODS Forty 15-60-year-old patients at American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II, scheduled for appendectomy were included in the study. After routine monitorisation, anaesthesia induction was performed with propofol, fentanyl and rocuronium; later, maintenance was continued with sevoflurane. Patients were divided into two groups randomly. A total 20 mL of 0.25% (50 mg) levobupivacaine was injected around the incision line as a rectangle in Group 1. Levobupivacaine was not administered in Group 2 patients. Heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, additional fentanyl requirement and mean blood pressure were recorded during the operation. All patients were evaluated according to difficulties encountered during extubation. RESULTS Discharge time, necessity of diclofenac and postoperative VAS values at 0-1 hours were statistically lower in Group 1 patients than the Group 2 patients (p<0.05). Difficulties, like straining, cough, laryngo-bronchospasm, vomiting and nausea during extubation, were 5% and 25% in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively, but these differences were not statistically significant (p=0.077). CONCLUSION Infiltration of 0.25% of levobupivacaine as a rectangle which included the incision line before surgery decreases discharge time, provides analgesia well in the early postoperative period and diminishes the requirement of analgesics in appendectomy patients.