The use of local anaesthetic in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a randomised clinical trial

A single-blind randomised trial to assess whether the application of local anaesthetic versus placebo to the peritoneum during laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery alters the post-operative pain intensity or analgesic requirments in adults

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN80724178

Enrollment

160

Registered

2013-02-28

Start date

2013-01-07

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2016-10-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Post operative pain following laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery Signs and Symptoms

Interventions

Levobupivacaine (0.25%) will be compared to placebo (0.9% sodium chloride). A total of 50ml of study solution will be administered to the peritoneum

the proportion of levobupivacaine administered will depend on the patients body weight. All patients will receive 10ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine to the port sites.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Age 18 years or older 2. Elective procedure 3. Suspected inguinal hernia 4. Ability to give informed consent 5. At least 24 hours between decision to operate and operation

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. History of allergy or sensitivity to local anaesthetics 2. Treatment for chronic pain or long-term analgesic use 3. Conversion to an open repair or laparotomy during the procedure

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Perceived pain on movement or coughing measured on a VAS scale at one, two and four hours post surgery 2. Total dosage of Fentanyl administered in post-operative period	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Perceived pain intensity on movement or coughing at other time points during the first post-operative week (measured at 8 hours, 24 hours and then daily) 2. Use of rescue or break-through medication for pain during the first week post-operatively. (All patients will be given a prescription of paracetamol to take regularly, any pain medication used over-and-above this will be classed as rescue medication.) 3. Time to discharge criteria being met	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Perceived pain intensity on movement or coughing at other time points during the first post-operative week (measured at 8 hours, 24 hours and then daily) 2. Use of rescue or break-through medication for pain during the first week post-operatively. (All patients will be given a prescription of paracetamol to take regularly, any pain medication used over-and-above this will be classed as rescue medication.) 3. Time to discharge criteria being met

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Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026