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Liposome Bupivacaine for Postoperative Analgesia: One Formulation Approved for Clinical Use Within the United States

  • Regional Anesthesia (CJL McCartney, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Postoperative analgesia is often provided using a local anesthetic administered directly to the surgical site, as a peripheral nerve block, or within the epidural space. Unfortunately, local anesthetics have a limited duration of action, and even with the addition of adjuvants, typically do not provide more than 24 h of analgesia. One formulation of liposome bupivacaine recently gained approval for clinical use within the United States. With a duration of action substantially longer than previously available local anesthetics, it has the potential not only to extend the duration of analgesia provided by single-injection administration, but also to replace continuous perineural local anesthetic infusion. Although promising, confirmatory data are currently scarce demonstrating superiority to non-liposomal long-acting local anesthetics. Liposome bupivacaine’s appropriate usefulness is therefore dependent upon the results of future research.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. First Ave., Bldg-103 Rm 3102, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA

    Matthew T. Charous

  2. Division of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, 200 West Arbor Drive, MC 8770, San Diego, CA, 92103-8770, USA

    Brian M. Ilfeld

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  1. Matthew T. Charous
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Correspondence to Brian M. Ilfeld.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Regional Anesthesia.

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Charous, M.T., Ilfeld, B.M. Liposome Bupivacaine for Postoperative Analgesia: One Formulation Approved for Clinical Use Within the United States. Curr Anesthesiol Rep 5, 235–242 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-015-0105-x

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