Pre-emptive digitally guided pudendal block after posterior vaginal repair

Introduction and hypothesis: The aim of this study was to establish if digitally guided pre-emptive pudendal block (PDB) reduces postoperative pain and facilitates recovery after posterior vaginal repair under local anesthesia and sedation.

Methods: We carried out a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial in an outpatient surgery facility. Forty-one women between 18 and 70 years of age, scheduled for primary posterior vaginal reconstructive outpatient surgery, completed the study. The surgery was performed using sedation and local anesthesia with bupivacaine/adrenaline. At the end of surgery, 20 ml of either ropivacaine 7.5 mg/ml or sodium chloride (placebo) was administered as a digitally guided PDB. The primary aim was to establish if PDB with ropivacaine compared with placebo reduced the maximal pain as reported by visual analog scale (VAS) during the first 24 h after surgery. Secondary aims were to compare the duration and experience of the hospital stay, nausea, need for additional opioids, and adverse events.

Results: PDB with ropivacaine after local infiltration with bupivacaine/adrenaline after outpatient posterior repair did not significantly reduce maximal postoperative pain, need for hospital admittance, nausea, or opioid use. Mild transient sensory loss occurred after ropivacaine in two women. Two women the placebo group were unable to void owing to severe postoperative pain, which was resolved by a rescue PDB.

Conclusions: When bupivacaine/adrenaline is used for anesthesia in posterior vaginal repair, PDB with ropivacaine gives no benefit regarding postoperative pain, recovery or length of hospital stay. Rescue PDB can be useful for postoperative pain relief.

Keywords: Perineum; Posterior repair; Prolapse; Pudendal block; Surgical techniques; Urogynecology.