The effect of intraperitoneal ropivacaine on pain after laparoscopic excision of endometriosis

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of ropivacaine and saline on pain after laparoscopic excision of endometriosis. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Women's hospital. PATIENTS: Ninety-three women undergoing excision of endometriosis. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic excision of endometriosis, after which saline 100 mg (46 women) or ropivacaine 200 mg dissolved in 100 ml saline (47) was instilled intraperitoneally for postoperative analgesia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No differences were seen between groups during the first 7 hours after surgery with respect to pain scores, analgesic requirements, postoperative nausea and vomiting, or time to discharge. CONCLUSION: We found no difference between ropivacaine and saline, instilled intraperitoneally, in their effects on pain after extensive excision of endometriosis.