Objective:

The aim of our study was to determine the effect of preincisional 0.25% levobupivacaine infiltration on extubation comfort, postoperative recovery and visual analogue scale (VAS) in appendectomy patients.

Methods:

Forty 15-60-year-old patients at American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II, scheduled for appendectomy were included in the study. After routine monitorisation, anaesthesia induction was performed with propofol, fentanyl and rocuronium; later, maintenance was continued with sevoflurane. Patients were divided into two groups randomly. A total 20 mL of 0.25% (50 mg) levobupivacaine was injected around the incision line as a rectangle in Group 1. Levobupivacaine was not administered in Group 2 patients. Heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, additional fentanyl requirement and mean blood pressure were recorded during the operation. All patients were evaluated according to difficulties encountered during extubation

Results:

Discharge time, necessity of diclofenac and postoperative VAS values at 0-1 hours were statistically lower in Group 1 patients than the Group 2 patients (p<0.05). Difficulties, like straining, cough, laryngo-bronchospasm, vomiting and nausea during extubation, were 5% and 25% in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively, but these differences were not statistically significant (p=0.077).

Conclusion:

Infiltration of 0.25% of levobupivacaine as a rectnagle which included the incision line before surgery decreases discharge time, provides analgesia well in the early postoperative period and diminishes the requirement of analgesics in appendectomy patients.

Keywords: Appendectomy, preincisional, pre-emptive, levobupivacaine