The pain control infusion pump for postoperative pain control in shoulder surgery

Purpose: This study was initiated to evaluate the effect of a pain control infusion catheter in managing postoperative pain. Type of Study: In a prospective, randomized trial, 62 consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic subacromial decompression had an indwelling pain control infusion catheter placed at the operative site. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one patients received 0.25% bupivacaine and 31 patients received saline infusions, each at a constant rate of 2 mL per hour. Patients evaluated their pain by visual analog scale, and also tabulated the amount of narcotic and nonnarcotic medication used each day in the first week of surgery. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in pain in all parameters tested in the bupivacaine group as compared with the saline control group (P < .05). Conclusions: The bupivacaine pain control infusion pump is an effective means of decreasing postoperative pain.