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Use of Intercostal Bupivacaine With Epinephrine After Surgery to Decrease Use of Narcotics and Duration of Intubation

• Background Postoperative pain plays a significant part in the recovery of patients after open heart surgery.

• Objective To determine if the use of intercostal bupivacaine with epinephrine is associated with decreases in use of narcotics and intubation times after open heart surgery.

• Methods A randomly selected experimental group of 25 patients received injections of bupivacaine with epinephrine in the intercostal tissues before chest closure in open heart surgery. A control group of 22 patients received no bupivacaine, only standard care. Postoperative use of narcotics and intubation times were determined for both groups.

• Results Compared with the control group, the group given bupivacaine with epinephrine used significantly less narcotics (P = .008) and had significantly shorter intubation times (P = .003).

• Conclusion Injection of intercostal bupivacaine with epinephrine before chest closure in open heart surgery decreases use of narcotics and length of intubation postoperatively, thus speeding up recovery times.