Decreased postoperative pain, narcotic, and antiemetic use after breast reduction using a local anesthetic pain pump

The purpose of this study was to conduct a prospective trial evaluating the efficacy of a local anesthetic pain pump in breast reduction surgery. Ninety-eight women undergoing bilateral breast reduction were enrolled. Thirty-seven patients received a pain pump containing 0.25% bupivicaine, and 61 patients received no pain pump. Parameters measured included subjective pain, episodes of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and the amount of narcotics and antiemetics used. Patients receiving a pain pump reported significantly lower pain scores on the day of surgery, as well as on the first and second postoperative days when compared with patients who did not (P < 0.01). The amount of intravenous and oral narcotics used paralleled the reduction in pain (P < 0.01), and there were fewer episodes of PONV and antiemetics used in the patients receiving a pain pump (P < 0.01). A postoperative local anesthetic pain pump can reduce pain, narcotic use, and PONV in women undergoing breast reduction.