Safety of 96-hour incision-site continuous infusion of ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia after bowel cancer resection.

The aim of this study was to examine the safety of ropivacaine given to patients as a continuous infusion [0.2% (2 mg/mL), 5 mL/h for 96 hours] into a right lateral transverse incision using a portable elastomeric infusion pump after colon cancer resection. Blood samples were collected throughout the infusion and up to 12 hours after infusion and were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for total and unbound ropivacaine concentrations in plasma.