Continuous Interscalene Analgesia with Ropivacaine 2 mg/ml after Major Shoulder Surgery

Abstract

A 48-h continuous interscalene infusion of 6 or 9 ml/h ropivacaine, 2 mg/ml, started 6 h after an initial interscalene block of 30 ml ropivacaine, 7.5 mg/ml, provided satisfactory postoperative pain relief after major shoulder surgery and was well tolerated. Unbound plasma concentrations of ropivacaine and PPX remained well below threshold levels for systemic central nervous toxicity.