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Objective: To evaluate the effect of intravenous lidocaine infusion on postoperative pain scores and narcotic consumption in patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. Study Design: Randomized, double blinded controlled trial. Place and Duration: Department of Anesthesia, Combined Military Hospital, Khuzdar from 15th November 2018 to 20th May 2019. Methodology: A total of 80 adult patients were randomly assigned into two groups of 40 each to receive IV lidocaine bolus, 1 mg/kg followed by IV infusion, 2mg/kg/h (group L) or similar volume/kg of saline (group S). Each patient's level of pain was measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS) on arrival in post anesthesia care unit, at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Total postoperative morphine consumption and the incidence of side effects were also recorded. Results: Intraoperative lidocaine infusion resulted in effective analgesia in first 12 h postoperatively, seen by low pain scores (P=<0.05). The total morphine consumption was also reduced in the lidocaine group (P=<0.05). No signs of systemic lidocaine toxicity were observed. Conclusion: Intraoperative lidocaine infusion should be considered as an adjunct to opioids for postoperative pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of subanesthetic dose of ketamine on postoperative pain scores and narcotic consumption in patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. Study Design: Randomized, double blinded controlled trial. Place and Duration: At the Department of Anesthesia, Combined Military Hospital, Khuzdar from 1st February 2018 to 31st January 2019. Methodology: Adult patients were randomly allocated into two groups of equal size to receive either IV ketamine bolus, 0.25mg/kg followed by IV infusion, 0.15mg/kg/h (group A) or the same volume/kg of saline (group B). A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure each patient's level of pain on arrival in post anesthesia care unit, at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Total postoperative morphine consumption and the incidence of side effects were also recorded. Results: Intraoperative low dose ketamine resulted in effective analgesia in first 12 h postoperatively, seen by low pain scores (P=<0.05). The total morphine consumption was also reduced in the ketamine group (P=<0.05). No serious psychomimetic side effects were noted in both the groups. Conclusion: Intraoperative low dose ketamine infusion should be considered as an adjunct to opioids for postoperative pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]