Abstract
Obejectives: This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine and bupivacaine for infraorbital nerve block post cheiloplasty. Additionally, the safety and feasibility of these agents in infants and young children were explored. Materials and Methods: Participants were divided into three groups: Control group (physiological saline), Group L (ropivacaine), and Group B (bupivacaine). Bilateral infraorbital nerve block anesthesia was performed at the beginning of surgery, and surgical treatment was performed under general anesthesia. Then, the FLACC scale method was used to score the pain of the children after surgery. Results: The heart rate of Group B was lower than that of the other two groups after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The FLACC pain scores in Group L and Group B at 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 4 hours after surgery were lower than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Side effects such as edema or hematoma at the puncture site, nausea, vomiting, cyanosis, and convulsions were noted. There were no adverse reactions in the control group. One case of lip cyanosis and convulsions occurred in Group L, and one case of nausea and vomiting occurred in Group B. There were no statistically significant differences in age, weight, and surgical time among the three groups(P > 0.05). Conclusions: Compared with bupivacaine, ropivacaine demonstrated similar analgesic effects and higher safety for postoperative pain relief of cleft lip repair in infants and young children. Its convenience of use suggests its merit for clinical promotion. Clinacal relevance: Ropivacaine could be considered an effective and reliable postoperative analgesic for cheiloplasty in infants.