Evaluation of postoperative analgesic effects of infraorbital nerve block by levobupivacaine vs. Ropivacaine after cleft palate surgery: A double-blinded randomized trial

Abstract

Background: Both ropivacaine and levobupivacaine have been used for the peripheral block in children for surgical pain. The present study is aimed to compare the effectiveness of 0.375% levobupivacaine and 0.375% ropivacaine in the infraorbital block for cleft palate surgery. Patients and Methods: Eighty patients between the age group of 2–12 years planned for elective surgery for cleft palate were included in the study. The solution for Group L was a mixture of 0.375% levobupivacaine and the solution for Group R was a mixture of 0.375% ropivacaine. Infraorbital nerve blocks were conducted by landmark-guided technique. We used the Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) to assess the postoperative pain. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the time interval until the first request for pain medication was made by the participants in the two groups (10.6 [8.4, 12.8] vs. 8.5 [6.1, 10.8] h, P = 0.002). There were differences in pain scores calculated at regular intervals after surgery comparing the two groups (2.7 ± 0.3 vs. 3.6 ± 0.3, P = 0.01). There were differences in the need for rescue analgesics comparing the two groups. Conclusion: The analgesic effects of levobupivacaine are statistically better than ropivacaine in the infraorbital block in children who underwent cleft palate surgery.

Keywords

• levobupivacaine
• pain
• regional anesthesia
• ropivacaine