Lidocaine patch for postoperative analgesia after radical retropubic prostatectomy

In a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive a lidocaine patch or placebo applied on each side of the wound at the end of surgery. Data were collected for 24 h after surgery. Seventy patients completed the study (36 lidocaine group, 34 placebo group). Demographics and postoperative morphine consumption were not different between the groups. However, the lidocaine patch group reported significantly less pain on coughing (19%-33% reduction) over all time periods (treatment vs placebo P < 0.0001, time x treatment P = 0.3056) and at rest (17%-32% reduction) for up to 6 h (treatment vs placebo P = 0.0003, time x treatment P = 0.0130).