Postoperative analgesia for hemorrhoidectomy with bilateral pudendal blockade on an ambulatory patient: a controlled clinical study

Background and objectives: Reducing postoperative pain in hemorrhoidectomy is still a challenge. This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted to compare bilateral pudendal blockade with peripheral nerve stimulator to relieve postoperative pain with the method commonly used. Method: 200 patients scheduled for hemorrhoidectomy were randomly divided into Control Group and Pudendal Group. Bilateral pudendal block was performed with levobupivacaine enantiomeric excess (S75:R25) after location with a peripheral nerve stimulator. The parameters evaluated were pain intensity, duration of analgesia, rescue analgesia, complications, patient satisfaction and pain at first defecation. Data were recorded at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours after the surgery. Results: Bilateral pudendal nerves with mean 23.4±4.4 hours provided better relief of postoperative pain (p<0.001), reducing the need for analgesics and residual analgesia for more than 24 hours in 41% of patients. All patients in Pudental Group had spontaneous micturition versus 96 in the control group. There was no local or systemic complications. Conclusions: Bilateral blockade of the pudendal nerve using a neurostimulator provided better pain relief with less need for rescue dose and no local or systemic complications.