Intravenous esmolol versus ropivacaine abdominal wound infiltration for postoperative analgesia after inguinal herniotomy: a randomized controlled trial

Objectives This study was designed as a randomized comparison of postoperative pain after inguinal herniotomy in patients treated with intravenous esmolol and others treated with ropivacaine abdominal wound infiltration. Patients and methods Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II patients undergoing herniotomy and anesthetized with isoflurane were randomized into one of two groups. Group R received 20 ml of ropivacaine 0.75% in 20 ml of saline 0.9% preincisional wound infiltration and group E patients received a bolus of esmolol 0.5 mg/kg intravenous at induction followed by an infusion of 5–15 mg/kg/min. After surgery, a bolus of pethidine was given according to visual analogue scale for pain intensity. Results Patients in group E had lower pain scores than patients in group R. Median consumption of pethidine was higher in group R than in group E. Conclusion Intravenous esmolol reduces pethidine consumption and provides more analgesia compared with preincisional ropivacaine infiltration in patients undergoing herniotomy.