This study focuses on pain management during major gastrointestinal surgery or abdominal surgery performed through laparotomy (a large surgical cut in the abdomen). The research examines the effectiveness of combining two pain relief methods: intravenous lidocaine (a numbing medication given through a vein) and intrathecal morphine (pain medication injected into the spinal fluid).
The main purpose is to determine if adding intravenous lidocaine to spinal morphine works better than using a placebo with spinal morphine for reducing the need for additional pain medication after surgery. The study compares two groups of patients – one receiving lidocaine and the other receiving placebo, along with spinal morphine.
During the study, patients undergo their planned abdominal surgery and receive either lidocaine or placebo through an intravenous line. The medication or placebo is given during and after the operation. Both groups receive spinal morphine as part of their pain management plan. The amount of additional pain medication needed and any side effects are monitored for several days after surgery.
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