Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the impact of skin local infiltration using Bupivacaine on post-cesarean section somatic pain intensity.

Subjects and Methods
Our prospective and double-blind study included 81 female patients, aged 32-43 years, American society of anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II and scheduled for cesarean section under balanced general anesthesia at Queen Alia military hospital during the period 2007-2009. Subjects were divided randomly into two groups. Group I (n=43) received skin local infiltration with placebo solution and group II (n=38) received skin local infiltration using Bupivacaine 0.5%. Intramuscular pethidine was administered intra- and post-operatively. Post-operative somatic pain scores using visual analog scale at rest (VASR) and pethidine consumption were recorded during the first 24 hours.

Results
There were no significant difference in VASR for pain at 1 hour post-operatively, (G I, 2.4 and G II, 2.6, P>0.05) and pethidine consumption (G I, 25mg and GII, 25mg, P>0.05).

Conclusion
Local skin infiltration using Bupivacaine 0.5% was not successful in controlling post-cesarean section somatic pain. (Rawal Med J 2011;36:110-113).

Key words: Bupivacaine, cesarean section, post operative pain.