Influence of ultrasound-guided bilateral blockade of the pudendal nerve in reducing pain in anorectal surgery patients.

Abstract

Introduction: Bilateral pudendal nerve block by ultrasound offers adequate postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing anorectal surgery. Objective: To evaluate the influence of ultrasound-guided bilateral pudendal nerve blockade in reducing pain in anorectal surgery patients, during the period from February 2017 to October 2017. Methods: Experimental, prospective, randomized study, evaluating postoperative pain. Two groups were selected, the first "Experimental" and the second "Control", who underwent bilateral ultrasound-guided blockade of the pudendal nerve or through topographic relationships, respectively. The visual analogue pain scale was applied at the time of discharge from the operating room, at 24 hours and with the first defecation. Patients older than 18 years with benign anorectal pathology were included. Results: A total of 12 patients, 6 for each group, 66.67% women and 33.33% men, with an average age of 42.92 years. The limitation of the sample does not allow statistical inference of the population studied in terms of anorectal pathology, or surgical procedure. When analyzing the pain scale as a variable of the ordinal qualitative type (severity) and comparing the proportion within each value, it was observed that 66.67% of the experimental group did not present pain at the time of discharge from the operating room, compared to 33. 33% of the control group. Conclusions: The ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve block is a safe, reliable procedure that improves postoperative pain and reduces the need for postoperative analgesics, without significantly increasing surgical time.