Effects of Preincisional Ketamine on Postoperative Pain after Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effect of preincisional injection of a small dose of ketamine on postoperative pain after laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). METHODS: Fourty patients undergoing LAVH were randomly allocated to one of two groups. Group K received ketamine 0.5 mg/kg IV. Group N received normal saline IV as a control group. Postoperative pain was rated at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hr postoperatively by visual analog scale (VAS). The incidence of patients requiring analgesics in the PACU and on the ward, the time to the first analgesic request and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: At 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hr after surgery, patients in the group K had significantly lower VAS than those in the group N (P < 0.05). The incidence of patients requiring analgesics in the postanesthetic care unit (PACU) and on the ward was not significantly different in the group K compared with group N. There were no significant differences in the first analgesic request time and the incidence of side effects in both group. CONCLUSIONS: Preincisional treatment with ketamine 0.5 mg/kg IV reduces postoperative pain after LAVH.