The effect of scalp block or local wound infiltration versus systemic analgesia on post-craniotomy pain relief

Background This is a prospective, double-blind observational study in which different types of analgesia and its effect on postoperative pain reduction in patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumor removal were compared. Methods The study included 141 adult craniotomy patients that were randomly separated into three equal groups. A group with scalp nerve blockade (B) and wound infiltration (I) received 0.25% bupivacaine combined with 1% lidocaine and 1:200,000 epinephrine. One gram of paracetamol and 2 mg/kg ketoprofen were administered intravenously (IV) after skin closure in a group with systemic analgesia (S). Pain intensity was evaluated after 1, 3, 6, and 24 h postoperatively using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The amount of rescue analgesia (ketorolac, paracetamol, and pethidine) and the duration for its first requirement were recorded. Results One hundred and forty-one patients were included in the study. The main pain scores were significantly lower in the groups with regional anesthesia compared to group S in the first hours post-surgery (p < 0.05). Significantly lower pain scores were observed in the group with a scalp nerve blockade compared to the group with systemic analgesia or wound infiltration after 24 h (p < 0.05). Regional anesthesia ensured a stable analgesic effect for all 24 h. Patients in groups B and I required significantly fewer rescue analgesics compared to patients in group S. The duration for the requirement of the first rescue analgesia was significantly longer in groups B and I compared to group S (p = 0.000). Conclusions The results of our study show that most patients experience pain in the early postsurgical hours. Regional analgesia could help reduce the incidence and severity of pain after a craniotomy and the amount of rescue analgesia used in this group of patients.

Automated summary

This prospective, double-blind observational study compared the effect of different types of analgesia on postoperative pain reduction in patients undergoing craniotomy for brain tumor removal. The results showed that most patients experience pain in the early postoperative hours, and regional analgesia could help reduce the severity and amount of pain in this group of patients.