Postoperative Pain Control for Prostatectomy

The researchers propose to investigate a relatively new anesthetic procedure, in order to maximize patient comfort and minimize the use of narcotics after a radical prostatectomy.

Our current post operative analgesic strategy involves a multi-modal approach, using local injectable anesthetic around the incision and systemic medications (i.e. non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, acetaminophen and break-through doses of opiates). As the amount of opiates used can be significant, we have to be aware of their inherent risks. Opiates have an excellent pain control profile, working peripherally by decreasing the amount of neurotransmitters released from neurons involving noxious stimuli, and also in their central processing. Some of the more common adverse reactions are reparatory depression, sedation, confusion, delirium, nausea, pruritis, constipation, hypotension and bradycardia. Often it is these resulting side effects that extend the length of in hospital rehabilitation, and decrease a patient's overall satisfaction. Thus we propose the use of a relatively new regional anesthetic technique be employed to further decrease the need for opiates in our prostatectomy patients' post-op course, while adequately controlling their pain.