Magnesium Sulfate Improves Postoperative Analgesia in Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgeries: a Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic oncology surgeries are enrolled in this study.

Patients were randomized to receive either intravenous ketorolac 30 mg in bolus followed by saline infusion (Group K), intravenous magnesium sulfate 20 mg/kg in bolus followed by magnesium 2 mg/kg/h (Group M) or intravenous saline solution 20 ml in bolus followed by saline infusion during the entire procedure (Group S). The study use a double-blinded methodology with random allocation into three groups using sealed opaque envelopes numbered 1 to 60, containing the instructions for the study. An independent anesthesiologist not involved in the study prepared the solutions and an observer who was also blinded to the patient's group records the data.

In the preoperative visit, patients that agree to participate are instructed about numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) device.

The night before surgery, patients are premedicated with midazolam 7.5 mg per os. Upon arrival in the operating room, monitoring devices (ECG, non-invasive arterial pressure, capnography, pulse oximetry) and a bispectral index (BIS) monitor are established. An intravenous line is secured, general intravenous anesthesia is induced with target infusion remifentanil and propofol. Cisatracurium besylate (0.5 mg/kg) is given to facilitate tracheal intubation and controlled ventilation is adjusted to maintain normocapnia with a 50% oxygen fraction administered. Then, the study medications are administered in bolus during 20 minutes, followed by continuous infusion of the specific solution, according to the study group to which the patient belonged, as described before.

At the end of the surgery, the study drugs are discontinued before the patient is extubated. If patients present clinical signs of residual neuromuscular blockade, they receive atropine 0.01mg/kg and neostigmine 0.04mg/kg. All patients receive dipyrone 30 mg/kg in bolus and a PCA device is connected to the intravenous line before discharge to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). PCA solution containing morphine 1mg/ml in 0.9% saline, is set to give bolus of 2ml (2mg) with a 10min lockout interval.