Use of a Regional Infusion Pump to Control Postoperative Pain After an Abdominoplasty

Article

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York, LLC

ISSN: 0364-216X (Paper) 1432-5241 (Online)

DOI: 10.1007/s00266-005-0062-8

Issue: Online First

Use of a Regional Infusion Pump to Control Postoperative Pain After an Abdominoplasty

Henry A. Mentz¹, Amado Ruiz-Razura¹, German Newall¹ and Christopher K. Patronella¹

(1)	The Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery, 12727 Kimberley Lane, Suite #300, Houston, Texas, 77024

Published online: 19 September 2005

Abstract This study presents the clinical results for 20 patients who underwent abdominoplasty. A subset of these patients were given a pain relief system that provides continuous infusion of a nonnarcotic medication directly into the surgical wound to reduce postoperative pain. Whereas patients received a pain pump in addition to standard oral/intramuscular pain medication, 10 patients received only the standard oral and intramuscular postoperative pain medications. All 20 patients then were asked to complete an evaluation of their postoperative discomfort and pain. The findings show a significant reduction in postoperative pain with the use of the ambulatory pain pump. The simplicity of installing and running the pump and the benefits obtained, including early ambulation and less pain as well as reduced need and strength of narcotic medications lead the authors to believe that the implementation of this pain control technology soon will become widespread in their specialty. The study indicates that patients require less sedation and get out of bed sooner with this device, thereby reducing the incidence of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, and narcoticdependency.

Keywords Regional infusion - Pain pump - Abdominoplasty

Presented at the annual meeting of the ASAPS (American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) and ASERF, The Aesthetic Meeting 2004, Vancouver, BC, April, 2004, and The Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Philadelphia, PA, USA 9–13 October 2004.

Dr. Mentz is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, Dr. Ruiz-Razura is a professor in the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School, Health Science Center in Houston.

Henry A. Mentz
Email: amadoruizmd@yahoo.com

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