Pre-, Peri-, and Postoperative Intravenous Ropivacaine versus that of Lidocaine for Analgesia after Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery of Left Colon Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis.

PURPOSES: Pre-, peri-, and postoperative intravenous lidocaine are reported effective in the management of postoperative pain in laparoscopic colorectal surgery but until the time, that of ropivacaine is not tested for the same. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effectiveness of pre-, peri-, and postoperative intravenous ropivacaine against that of lidocaine on the postoperative pain, bowel function recoveries, and hospital stays in patients who underwent surgery of left colon cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data regarding total doses of fentanyl required, bowel function recoveries, surgical-related complications, and hospital stays of 367 patients who underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery of left colon cancer were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Patients received pre-, peri-, and postoperative intravenous normal saline (NS cohort, n = 104), or that of lidocaine (LC cohort, n = 145), or that of ropivacaine (RC cohort, n = 118). RESULTS: Fewer dose of fentanyl was required in patients of RC cohort than those of NS (9 doses/patient vs. 11 doses/patient, p < .0001, q = 27.445) and LC (9 doses/patient vs. 10 doses/patient, p < .0001, q = 9.911) cohorts. Patients of the RC cohort had less time to first drink, first bowel movement, full diet, and hospital stay than those of NS and LC cohorts (p < .05 and q > 3.329 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-, peri-, and postoperative intravenous ropivacaine are safe and effective than that of normal saline or lidocaine in hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery of left colon cancer.