Novel Technique of Analgesia Following Open Liver Resection

Abdominal wall incisions used for liver surgeries are associated with significant postoperative pain and disability. Epidural analgesia is often contraindicated in these patients due to common bleeding problems. Furthermore, drugs such as acetaminophen and opioids are often inadequate and can lead to detrimental side-effects. Abdominal wall (AW) catheters can be placed during surgical closure along the incision line and can be used to administer local anesthetics for postoperative pain. The study is a multi-centre, double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 120 patients undergoing elective liver surgery. Patients will be randomly assigned to AW catheter group treated with drug or control treated with saline. Treatment group will receive AW catheters with ropivacaine plus standard patient controlled analgesia (PCA). Control group will obtain AW with normal saline and no local anesthetics and PCA. Patients are followed for 6 months post-operatively for pain scores, side-effects, chronic pain and complications.