Clinical Research Directory

Administration of Ropivacaine by Bi-laterosternal Multiperforated Catheters Placed Before a Sternotomy for Cardiac Surgery

The sternotomy site is the most painful site after cardiac surgery. Local infiltration of ropivacaine through the multihole catheters in the bilaterosternal position (BLS) after sternotomy significantly reduces pain at rest and during mobilization, reduces opioids consumption, decreases postoperative complications, improves patient comfort and satisfaction and reduced hospital costs. In this study our hypothesis is to test the efficacity of local anesthetic administration via the catheters in the BLS position placed before the surgical incision.

Postoperative Rehabilitation After Cardiac Surgery in Patients at Risk of Respiratory Complications. Effects of a Continuous Bi-laterosternal Infusion of Ropivacaine Through Multihole Catheters

Postoperative pain after cardiac surgery is a risk factor for postoperative complications. In cardiac surgery, pain is more intense during the first 48 hours and disturbs the patient's capacity of coughing, deep breathing, and early mobilisation. It may be responsible for respiratory complications such as bronchial or pulmonary infection, and may also delay the patient's rehabilitation and therefore prolong the duration of in-hospital stay. A previous pilot study performed in our department showed a sensible improvement of analgesia at movement and of rehabilitation with a continuous bilaterosternal infusion of local anaesthesia \[Eljezi et al.. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2012; 37:166\]. Such strategy shall be tested in a subpopulation of patients at risk for respiratory complication.