Scottsdale – A new study in the Annals of Plastic Surgery demonstrates patients who have implantable local anesthesia pumps use less narcotics after breast reconstruction with deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps. The study evaluated narcotic use after deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction when a local anesthetic catheter was used.

The analysis was performed comparing 40 consecutive control patients (receiving no catheters) to 40 consecutive study patients who had received a pain pump catheter. The catheter was left in the abdomen for 3 days. All narcotic doses (oral and intravenous) were converted to intravenous morphine equivalents.

Initial average 24-hour morphine requirement for the control group was 42 mg compared with 33 mg for the study group, a difference that was statistically significant. The total hospitalization morphine requirement for the control group was 71 mg compared with 55 mg (average) for the catheter patients, also statistically significant. The conclusion of the study is that use of an implantable local anesthetic catheter placed in the abdomen can decrease narcotic use in the postoperative period after breast reconstruction with deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps.

I have use catheters like the ones studied here and have been impressed with the rapid recovery experienced by patients after tummy tuck and body lift surgery. This includes less narcotic use and a speedier recovery, including earlier walking after surgery and complete rehabilitation after these types of abdominal procedures, which are, similar to the deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps.