Table 2. Serial evaluation of postoperative pain scores and analgesic requirements.
| Variables | PLBI group (n=32) (%) | IV PCA group (n=36) (%) | 95% CI of mean pain difference* | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAS pain score [0-10] | ||||
| PACU | 8.3±2.1 | 8.5±1.7 | −0.2 (−1.12-0.72) | 0.645 |
| POD 0 | 5.1±1.6 | 5.2±1.4 | −0.1 (−0.83-0.63) | 0.802 |
| POD 1 | 3.5±1.6 | 3.3±1.2 | 0.2 (−0.48-0.88) | 0.573 |
| POD 2 | 2.7±1.3 | 2.5±1.2 | 0.2 (−0.41-0.81) | 0.430 |
| POD 3 | 2.3±1.3 | 2.1±1.5 | 0.2 (−0.48-0.88) | 0.604 |
| 1 week after discharge | 3.0±1.7 | 2.8±1.5 | 0.2 (−0.59-0.99) | 0.281 |
| 1 month after discharge | 1.9±1.2 | 2.3±1.4 | −0.4 (−1.04-0.24) | 0.197 |
| 2 months after discharge | 1.5±1.2 | 1.3±1.2 | 0.2 (−0.38-0.78) | 0.579 |
| Analgesic requirement | ||||
| Additional IV analgesics during hospitalization (times) | 3.3±2.1 | 2.3±1.3 | 1.0 (0.16-1.84) | 0.03 |
| The number of patients who want oral pain killer on POD 2 weeks | 15 (46.9) | 11 (30.6) | NA | 0.167 |
| The number of patients who want oral pain killer on POD 1 month | 4 (12.5) | 6 (16.7) | NA | 0.628 |
| The number of patients who want oral pain killer on POD 2 months | 1 (3.1) | 1 (2.8) | NA | 0.933 |
Values are mean ± SD or number of patients (percentages). *, 95% CI of mean pain score difference. CI, confidential interval; PLBI, pre-emptive local bupivacaine injection; IV PCA, intravenous patient controlled analgesia; VAS, visual analogue scale; PACU, postanesthesia care unit; POD, postoperative day; IV, intravenous; NA, not available.