The On Q pump
Heather:
The ON Q pain pump (vs Stryker pain pump) as you may know works by bathing the tissue in a local anesthetic like the dentist does when they numb you up. I actually worked with one of the surgeons at the University of Wisconsin who studied the ON Q pump for inguinal hernias. It gave modest relief of pain on post op day one and no significant differences in relief after that (the study was published this year). It is mainly used for inguinal hernias in the US other same day or one day surgery. It is more frequently being used in plastic surgery for breast augmentation and I have not heard of anyone with a significant study using it in bariatric surgery but I'm sure its coming. The only study I know of on its use in open abdominal surgery was from Hong Kong and it concluded the same thing. All studies are directed toward proving that it is worth its cost (to you) insurance doesn't pay for it of $250-400.00. The most frequent complaints are blood tinged leaking from the wound and its high cost. It is agreed that this is not yet routine or mainstream therapy.
I can only imagine that you are asking about open (long incision) bypass surgery because I can't imagine putting several catheters at that cost in laparoscopic wounds.
What's my opinion after all that? They are moderately effective but the company never promises no pain just less narcotic usage. So if you decide to use it I am not totally against trying it if you can afford it but If you can't or decide not to, just take the pain medication and get it done laparscopically which would significantly decrease your pain to begin with. Do you agree Dr. Curry?
Sincerely,
Calvin Selwyn, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Surgery
UC Center for Surgical Weightloss
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