Pain Control in Bariatric Patients: EXPAREL(R) vs. the On-Q(R) Pain Ball
Pain Control in Bariatric Patients: EXPAREL(R) vs. the On-Q(R) Pain Ball
This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of two local pain control methods in
 bariatric patients by assessing the amount of postoperative pain and amount of postoperative
 pain medications needed. This information was used to determine which local anesthetic
 provided the best pain control.
The investigators have previously utilized the On-Q® pain ball to obtain local control by
 continuous delivery of bupivacaine to pain fibers at the incision site. On-Q makes use of an
 implanted catheter and a continuous infusion pump that the patient carries with them
 typically for 48-72 hours after surgery. EXPAREL is a long-acting liposomal delivery vehicle
 that extends the life of bupivacaine in the surgical site for up to 72 hours. It can be
 injected in all trocar sites and offers another potential solution to patient pain control
 without the need for a catheter and the hardware needed to deliver the local anesthetic.
 Patient NRS (numerical rating scale) scores for postoperative pain and total medication
 consumed were used to assess the differences between the two treatment groups.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 18-80, male or female

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnant women