ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Decrease acute pain after breast cancer surgery by an infiltration of ropivacaine. Analyse effect on chronic pain. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomised double blind versus placebo study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-one patients randomised between two groups received wound infiltration with 40 ml of ropivacaine 4.75 mg/ml or placebo. Acute pain was assessed during 24h with analogical visual scale and antalgic consumption. One year later, telephonic interviews looked for chronic pain and evaluate it with McGill Pain Questionnaire. RESULTS: Analogical visual scale pain score, antalgic consumption and chronic pain incidence were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: Ropivacaine scar infiltration provided no acute or chronic pain relief after breast cancer surgery.