Trial Information

Evaluation of Lidocaine Continuous Intravenous Administration for Postoperative Recovery After Colorectal Surgery

One of the purposes of postoperative care is to shorten the duration of recovery, in order
to reduce the complications and to improve the quality of life. After abdominal surgery, two
factors can be modified: early mobilisation, thanks to optimal pain control, and return to a
normal feeding, permitted by transit recovery. Opioids, which are usually used for pain
control, delay the intestinal transit and can be responsible for side effects like
drowsiness, nausea, urine retention.

Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic, which means that it can stop the pain if it is
administrated around the nerves. It can also be used intravenously. In this way, it is
supposed to decrease opioid consumption, accelerate intestinal transit and even decrease
inflammation. Side effects of lidocaine appear at higher plasma concentrations than those
considered in the study.

After randomisation, the patient will receive either intravenous lidocaine during the
surgery and 24 hours after the surgery, or physiological serum (like placebo). Every patient
will dispose of patient-controlled-analgesia with morphine and of a standardised care
management. Data will be collected concerning pain level, morphine consumption, psychomotor
performances, duration of ileus, speed of activity recovery, quality of recovery, and side
effects. Biological evaluation of lidocaine concentration and inflammation will also be
done.