Systemic lidocaine decreased the perioperative opioid analgesic requirements but failed to reduce discharge time after ambulatory surgery.

BACKGROUND

In this randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial, we evaluated whether systemic lidocaine would reduce pain and time to discharge in ambulatory surgery patients.

METHODS

Sixty-seven patients were enrolled to receive lidocaine or saline infusion perioperatively.

RESULTS

Length of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay did not differ between groups. Intraoperative opioid use was significantly less in the lidocaine group, both in the PACU and during the total study period but not after discharge. In the PACU, patients in the lidocaine group reported less pain (visual analog scale score 3.1 +/- 2.04 vs 4.5 +/- 2.9; P = 0.043). There were no differences in postoperative nausea and vomiting.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative systemic lidocaine significantly reduces opioid requirements in the ambulatory setting without affecting time to discharge.