Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Health Survey After Midline Laparotomy With the Rectus Sheath Block (RSB) Analgesia: A Randomised Trial of Patients With Cancer and Benign Disease.

Background/aim: Our original hypothesis was that the rectus sheath block (RSB) analgesia could enhance patient satisfaction and decrease pain following midline laparotomy.

Patients And Methods: Initially, 56 patients were randomized into four groups; control group (n=12), single-dose (n=16), repeated-dose (n=12) and continuous infusion (n=16) RSB analgesia groups. The BPI (Brief Pain Inventory) survey was conducted preoperatively and at one and four weeks and 12 months postoperatively. The patients pain 24 h postoperatively and satisfaction 48 h postoperatively was filled on an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS).

Results: The repeated-dose group had lower BPI severity score (p=0.045) and BPI interference score (p=0.043) mean values postoperatively compared to the three other groups separately. Also, the time effect on the linear mixed model in BPI interference score mean values was statistically significant (p=0.008), which means that in the repeated dose group preoperative BPI severity score [2.7 (3.9)] and interference score [4.3 (4.2)] mean (SD) values were significantly higher than the BPI severity score [1.3 (0.8)] and interference score [1.5 (1.8)] mean (SD) values following surgery.

Conclusion: The higher elevation in BPI severity score and decrease in interference score values in the repeated dose group and also the time effect in a linear mixed model in BPI interference score were statistically significant.