A Comparison Between Scalp Nerve Block and Scalp Infiltration

Forty ASA I or II patients, scheduled for aneurysm clipping were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, controlled study. Those patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group B (Scalp nerve block before skin incision n=15), Group I (Scalp infiltration before incision n=15), respectively with 0.75% of ropivacaine, and Group C (the control group, n=15). Opioids were used to control haemodynamic responses.All patients received the same general anesthesia. After intubation, in group B, scalp block was performed by blocking the nerves that innervate the scalp, including the supraorbital, supratrochlear, zygomaticotemporal, auriculotemporal, greater occipital and lesser occipital nerves, and skin along the incision was infiltrated with 0.75% ropivacaine (group I, n = 15), respectively. For group C, there is no treatment. All patients received the same general anesthesia. The depth of anaesthesia was adjusted to maintain a BIS of 40-60. Characteristics of patients were recorded. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded preoperatively, after induction, before skin incision, the moment of incision, after skin incision. Plasma levels of IL-6, IL-10, CRP were measured before surgery, skin incision,after the surgery. Postoperative pain scores (VAS) for 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 hours after recovery of consciousness were also recorded. Postoperative complications ( nausea, vomiting, infection, and other adverse events) were monitored after surgery.