The study investigates the impact on post-operative pain of the superficial cervical block with bupivacaine combined with subcutaneous infiltration of the incisional area in thyroid surgery under general anesthesia. In addition, cost savings using the cervical block are evaluated (due to reduced length of hospital stay). The study is prospective, randomized, double blind, and placebo-controlled. The study is performed at the Department of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
183
10 ml of 5% bupivacaine (Carbostesin®) was used for each side. Along the cranial dorsal edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, three deposits of approximately 2.5 ml were injected to anaesthetize the cervical plexus with its nervus transversus colli. To anaesthetize the region of the planned skin incision, the remaining 2·5 ml was injected subcutaneously on each side.
10 ml of saline (the carrier of bupivacaine in the experimental treatment) was used for each side. Along the cranial dorsal edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, three deposits of approximately 2.5 ml were injected to anaesthetize the cervical plexus with its nervus transversus colli. To anaesthetize the region of the planned skin incision, the remaining 2·5 ml was injected subcutaneously on each side.
Department of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen
Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Post-operative Pain Measured by Visual Analogue Scale
Patient administered Instrument to indicate pain on a level from 0 to 10. (0: no pain, 10: worst imaginable pain)
Time frame: 6 hours after surgery
Pooled Relative Treatment Effect of VAS
Pain was obtained using the visual analog scale (VAS) three times daily for the 4 postoperative days (0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain) The pooled relative treatment effect is the probability of values being higher in one group than in another group (ranging from 0 to 1)
Time frame: 4 days after surgery
Post-operative Pain Measured by Visual Analogue Scale
Patient administered Instrument to indicate pain on a level from 0 to 10. (0: no pain, 10: worst imaginable pain)
Time frame: 24 hours after surgery
Consumption of Post-operative Analgetics
number of participants taking post-operative analgetics
Time frame: 5 days after surgery
Mean Consumption of Post-operative Analgetics
mean pooled dose of post-operative analgetics
Time frame: 5 days after surgery
Hospital Stay
time from surgery to Hospital release in days
Time frame: 90 days
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