[Ilioinguinal nerve blockade with or without epinephrine for analgesia after caesarean section]

The analgesic effect of bilateral ilioinguinal nerve blockade with or without epinephrine after caesarean section with Pfannenstiel incision was investigated in 36 ASA class 1-2 parturients. They were randomly classified into 3 groups of 12 each. Before the patients were extubated from standard general anesthesia, bilateral ilioinguinal nerve blockade was performed. Group A patients were the control group. Group B patients received 0.375% plain marcaine 10 mL to each side. Group C patients received 0.375% plain marcaine with 1:200000 epinephrine 10 mL to each side. The pain scores and requirement for post operative analgesia of group B and C were compared with the control group A. The pain scores of group B and C were decreased 30% and 37% respectively during the first eight hours after operation. However, group C patients had lower pain scores during the first day after operation. There was an increased time from anesthesia to the first injection of pethidine in group B and C when compared with group A (4.57 +/- 2.94, 4.38 +/- 2.72 and 1.8 +/- 0.9 hr, respectively). However, no significant difference between group B and C. The total pethidine requirement were decreased in group B and C although the mean pethidine dose was not statistically significant. The results suggest that bilateral ilioinguinal nerve blockade improve the quality of postoperative analgesia. The adding epinephrine can prolong the duration of nerve blockade.