Wound catheter techniques for postoperative analgesia

Wound catheter technique is a technique of postoperative analgesia in which the surgeon places a catheter to infuse local anesthetic into wounds at the end of the procedure. It can be used in abdominal colorectal surgery or after holecystectomies, was studied after caesarean delivery. It was effective after some orthopaedic procedures such as shoulder and knee surgery, at the donor site in the iliac crest. It can be used in plastic surgery after breast surgery. It is technically efficient, substantially reduces the need for opioids and the related side effects and can be used for several days. With the introduction of portable pumps, it can be used on an ambulatory basis. No signs of impaired or delayed healing were shown in any of the studies, no clinical signs of local anesthetic toxicity were observed. There have been some conflicting reports of the overall efficacy, therefore more studies are needed to help us understand the procedure specific optimal flow rates, local anesthetic concentrations, site of catheter placement. Inspite of many unanswered questions, both the efficacy and technical simplicity of this technique encourage its widespread clinical use.