Local Infiltration of Tramadol versus Bupivacaine for Post Cesarean Section Pain Control: A Double-Blind Randomized Study

BACKGROUND Postoperative pain control after cesarean section (C/S) is important because inadequate postoperative pain control can result in a prolonged hospital stay. In this study, we compared postoperative somatic wound pain control between patients receiving tramadol and bupivacaine, infiltrated at the wound site. METHODS In this randomized clinical trial, 98 patients, eligible for elective C/S under general anesthesia, were randomly allocated to 2 groups. Before wound closure, 20 cc of 0.025% bupivacaine and 2 mg/kg of tramadol, diluted to 20 cc, were infiltrated at the wound site in groups A and B, respectively. After surgery, the pain score was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Additionally, 24-hour total morphine consumption, nausea and vomiting, and respiratory depression were compared after 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours between the 2 groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS with the Student independent t test, χ2 test, Fisher exact test, and repeated measure test. RESULTS Postoperatively, there was no significant difference between these 2 groups in their VAS scores until 16 hours (P>0.05). However, at the 16th and 24th hours, the mean VAS scores were 3.20±2.24 and 2.51±2.55 in the bupivacaine group and 2.51±0.99 and 1.40±0.88 in the tramadol group, respectively (P<0.05). There was no difference in nausea and vomiting during the 24-hour period between the 2 groups. Also, no respiratory depression was detected in the both groups. CONCLUSION Local infiltration of tramadol (2 mg/kg) at the incision site of C/S was effective in somatic wound pain relief without significant complications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER IRCT2013070111662N2.