Comparison of levobupivacaine alone versus levobupivacaine with ketamine in subcutaneous infiltration for postoperative analgesia in lower segment cesarean section

Efficacy and safety of ketamine wound infiltration for postoperative pain management: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis

Background

Postoperative pain has a huge impact on the patients, families, healthcare practitioners, and healthcare delivery. Pain management with opioid-based analgesics and blind techniques have certain limitations, and ultrasound-based regional analgesia necessitates resources and experience, but ketamine wound infiltration is innovative with few side effects. However, its effectiveness is still uncertain.

Methods

A thorough search was carried out across various databases including PubMed/Medline, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, and LILACS, with no limitations on date or language. Only randomized trials comparing the effectiveness of ketamine wound infiltration for managing postoperative pain were considered for inclusion. Two authors independently conducted data extraction, and the quality of evidence was assessed using GRADEpro software. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was utilized to ascertain the conclusiveness of the findings.

Results

The review showed that the first analgesic request was higher in the control group as compared to ketamine standard mean difference (SMD)=1.68 (95% CI: 0.95-2.41). The TSA revealed that the cumulative Z-curve crosses both alpha-spending boundaries and reaches the required information size threshold, revealing strong power for current evidence. However, the quality of evidence was moderate.

Conclusion

Despite available evidence, the provision of a firm conclusion is less optimal with current evidence as the included studies were unpowered with low to very low quality of evidence.

Efficacy and safety of wound infiltration modalities for postoperative pain management after cesarean section: a systematic review and network meta-analysis protocol

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pain after a cesarean section has negative consequences for the mother during the postoperative period. Over the years, various postoperative pain management strategies have been used following cesarean section. Opioid-based analgesics and landmark approaches have negative side effects, while ultrasound-based regional analgesia necessitates resources and experience, but various wound infiltration adjuvants are innovative with few side effects and are simple to use. The efficacy and safety of each adjuvant, however, are unknown and require further investigation.

OBJECTIVE

This network meta-analysis is intended to provide the most effective wound infiltration drugs for postoperative management after cesarean section.

METHOD

A comprehensive search will be conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, CINHAL, and LILACS without date and language restrictions. All randomized trials comparing the effectiveness of wound infiltration drugs for postoperative pain management after cesarean section will be included. Data extraction will be conducted independently by two authors. The quality of studies will be evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and the overall quality of the evidence will be determined by GRADEpro software.

DISCUSSION

The rate of postoperative acute and chronic pain is very high which has a huge impact on the mother, family, healthcare practitioners, and healthcare delivery. It is a basic human right to give every patient with postoperative pain treatment that is realistic in terms of resources, technique, cost, and adverse event profile.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021268774.