| Sumario: | Objective: To evaluate the effect of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) applied in addition to general anesthesia on postoperative opioid consumption and length of hospital stay in patients having total thyroidectomy. Material and Methods: A total of 97 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy under general anesthesia between January and June 2010, who had or did not havebilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) were retrospectively evaluated in terms of postoperative tramadol requirement and length of hospital stay. Of these patients, 24 were excluded for various reasons. Of the remaining 73 patients, 33 patients who underwent BSCPB with 0.5% 20 ml levobupivacaine at the beginning of surgery after anesthesia induction were evaluated as BSCPB group; remaining 40 patients were evaluated as the control group. Results: A statistically significant difference could not be found when age, gender, height, weight, ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status classification and education level of the patients were compared between two groups. While 11 (33%) of 33 patients in the BSCPB group needed postoperative opioids, 36 (90%) of 40 patients in the control group needed postoperative opioids (p<0.001). Tramadol consumption was found significantly lower in BSCPB group compared to the control group (p<0.001). When the length of hospital stay in postoperative period was compared, it was found statistically significantly sh?rter in BSCPB group (2.18±0.88 days) compared to the control group (2.78±1.38 days) (p=0.037). Conclusion: We consider that bilateral superficial cervical plexus block performed in addition to general anesthesia in thyroidectomy operations reduces tramadol requirement in the postoperative period as well as the length of hospital stay.
|
|---|