The effect of preemptive pudendal nerve block on pain after anterior and posterior vaginal repair

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Anterior and posterior vaginal repair (APR) is a common surgery for women with prolapse of pelvic organs which creates post-operative pain because of damage of tissues that we should manage and control this pain. For this purpose, this study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of preemptive pudendal nerve block on post-operative pain in anterior and posterior vaginal wall repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a double-blinded clinical trial study, 60 women candidates of APR were randomly divided to two groups. In both of them was injected 0.3 cc/kg bupivacaine 0.25 for the intervention group or normal saline for the control group in pudendal nerve tract with the guide of nerve stimulator. A visual analog scale was used to measure pain during the first 48 h after the surgery. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: Compared with the intervention group, the control group experienced greater pain during rest and walking. There were significant differences between the two groups from the first post-operative hour (P = 0.003) until 48 h after the operation (P = 0.021). Furthermore, the mean +/- SD values of pain in the sitting position was not significantly different between control and intervention groups at the same time (P = 0.340). CONCLUSION: Preemptive pudendal nerve block can reduce post-operative pain score in anterior and posterior vaginal wall repair and this method was suggested in anterior and posterior vaginal wall repair.