Assessing The Efficacy of Lidocaine Infusion Vs. Opioids in Postoperative Pain Management and Rehabilitation Following Abdominal Surgeries.
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Abstract
Background: Managing postoperative pain efficiently is critical for improving patient outcomes and facilitating recovery. Despite the widespread use of opioids in postoperative pain management, their potential for adverse effects necessitates alternative strategies. Intravenous lidocaine infusion has been proposed as an effective alternative, though evidence remains inconclusive.
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intravenous lidocaine infusion with traditional opioid therapy in postoperative pain management and rehabilitation in patients following abdominal surgeries.
Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 128 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were randomized into two groups receiving either lidocaine infusion or opioid therapy. Primary outcome measures were postoperative pain assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at 24 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included total opioid consumption within the first 48 hours, time to first mobilization, and time to first bowel movement.
Results: Patients in the lidocaine group demonstrated significantly lower NRS scores at 24 hours postoperatively, lower total opioid consumption in the first 48 hours, earlier mobilization, and quicker return of bowel function than those in the opioid group.
Conclusion: The use of intravenous lidocaine infusion as an adjunct to multimodal analgesia can be an effective strategy for postoperative pain management, reducing opioid consumption and facilitating recovery. Further extensive, randomized controlled trials are recommended to confirm these findings and standardize the application of lidocaine infusion in different surgical scenarios.
Keywords: Lidocaine infusion, Opioids, Postoperative Pain, Abdominal Surgeries, Pain Management, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
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