Comparison of IV PCA and Wound Infusion After Repair of Pectus Excavatum

On arrival in the postanesthetic care unit, a patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) was connected to the iv catheter. The PCA regimen consisted of hydromorphone (2 mcg/kg/hr) and ketorolac (0.02 mg/kg/hr) with normal saline (total volume 100ml). PCA was programmed to deliver 1 ml/hr as background infusion and 1 ml per demand with a 10 min lockout during 48 hr period.

Patients underwent insertion of wound catheters by the surgeon just before the closure of incision site. The wound catheters, consisting of double branch and connected to elastomeric pump filled with ropivacaine (0.15\~0.25%) and administered at a constant flow rate of 2 ml/hr in each branch of the catheter for 48 hr.