New treatment cuts morphine use by over 40% in women undergoing C-sections.(ON-Q Post-Operative Pain Relief System)

2002 JUN 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study of women who gave birth by cesarean section showed that the narcotic-free ON-Q Post-Operative Pain Relief System reduced traditional narcotic use by 40% and delivered equivalent pain relief, according to a recent study.

Twenty-two percent of births in the United States are by cesarean section, and nearly one million cesarean sections are performed annually.

"Immediately after delivery, mothers should begin the baby bonding process. However, when a new mother experiences the narcotic side effects of pain relief, such as nausea and drowsiness, bonding is significantly delayed," said Vanessa A. Givens, MD, an investigator in the study and physician, department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. "The 40% reduction in traditional narcotic use we found in patients using ON-Q is dramatic. It allows these women to more fully enjoy the first precious days of life with their newborn, instead of suffering with narcotic side effects or pain after surgery."

ON-Q, called the "pain relief ball" by some doctors and patients, is a balloon-like device that provides targeted pain relief after surgery only where the body needs it, automatically delivering a nonnarcotic numbing medication directly into an incision site.

In this randomized, prospective, double-blind study, patients undergoing a cesarean section had the ON-Q system inserted prior to closure of the incision site. Patients were randomized to receive an infusion of either 0.25% bupivacaine - a local anesthetic - or normal saline into the incision site via ON-Q for 48 hours. Using a visual analog scale, postoperative pain was assessed at 12, 24, and 48 hours. Supplemental postoperative morphine use was evaluated at the same intervals.

Patient demographics between the two groups were the same with respect to age, state of pregnancy, number of children born, and body mass index. There were no significant differences in visual analog scores for pain perception at any time ...