PERINEURAL CATHETER TECHNIQUE FOR PREVENTION OF POST-AMPUTATION STUMP PAIN.

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Sandhya Kalappa,
261, 1st Cross, 12th Block,
Nagarabhavi 2nd Stage, Bangalore-560072.
E-mail: sandyaraghu@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Post-operative stump pain can be a cause of significant morbidity in high risk amputees. The underlying medical conditions may deter the use of systemic analgesics.

AIMS

Our study aimed to study the analgesic efficacy of an introperatively placed perineural catheter as compared to Epidural analgesia for major lower limb amputation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective study, a total of 38 patients undergoing major lower limb surgeries were randomised to receive an Epidural infusion of 5ml/hr. of 0.125% Bupivacaine or a perineural infusion of 10ml/hr. of 0.125% Bupivacaine for 72 hours postoperatively. VAS scores and the number of doses of rescue analgesia received were recorded at regular intervals for 72 hours.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Data analysis was carried out using student t-test and ANOVA.

RESULTS

There was no statistical significance in the VAS scores or the requirement of rescue analgesic between both the groups. No significant side effects were noted in either of the groups.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that perineural infusion of local anaesthetics following lower limb amputations provides excellent analgesia for acute stump pain.

KEYWORDS

Amputation, Analgesics, Epidural, Perineural Catheter.