The postoperative bowel function can affect the number of hospital days and morbidity. This study examined the effect of intravenous lidocaine on the postoperative bowel function.

Forty patients scheduled to undergo a laparoscopic hysterectomy were randomly allocated to receive intravenous lidocaine or an equal volume of saline. The lidocaine group received a continuous lidocaine infusion of 2 mg/kg/hr intraoperatively and for one hour after surgery. The saline group received an equal volume of saline. The time to the first flatus, defecation and hospital discharge were recorded. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were assessed. The consumption of intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) over a twenty-four hour period and the dose of the rescue drug were measured. The visual analogue scale of pain was assessed at the recovery room and 24 hour after surgery. The side effects of intravenous lidocaine were recorded.

The patients' demographics were similar in both groups. The median time to the first flatus was 30 hours in the lidocaine group and 42 hours in the saline group (P < 0.05). The median time to defecation was 65.5 hours in the lidocaine group and 96 hours in the saline group (P < 0.05). The number of hospital days was similar. Intravenous lidocaine significantly decreased the level of IV-PCA consumption (P < 0.05). In the lidocaine group, the incidence of PONV was significantly lower (P < 0.05), and no side effects were observed.

Intravenous lidocaine facilitates the recovery of the bowel function after a laparoscopic hysterectomy by reducing the flatus time and defecation time. In addition, the level of IV-PCA consumption after surgery and the incidence of PONV were also reduced by intravenous lidocaine.