Prolonged analgesia with ropivacaine after surgery on the thyroid gland

The problem of pain syndrome within postoperative period still remains urgent. Pain that occurs after surgery on the thyroid gland is often underestimated and ignored. The aim of the study was to optimize postoperative analgesia by means postoperative wound irrigation with 0,75% ropivacaine via catheter. Materials and Methods. 60 patients who were operated on the thyroid gland at the age between 26 and 76 years were included in the study. 2 groups have been identified: the control group, in which tramadol and opioids were used to treat pain syndrome, and the main group, in which patients underwent local wound irrigation of 0.75% ropivacaine through mikroirrigator. Pain level assessment was made according to VAS. Analgesics were injected at the request of the patients when the assessment by VAS was more than 3 points. Observations showed that the average level of pain of the patients in the control group was 3.86 points, while on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day it was 5.2, 3.5, 2.9, respectively. In the main group the average pain level was 3,16 according to VAS; and on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days it was 4, 2, 3.3 and 2 points. Conclusion. That method provides a sufficient level of analgesia after surgery on the thyroid gland.