The effect of ropivacaine infiltration on the expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) on skin defect: experimental study on Wistar rats

Background: The main problems of postoperative patients are pain and wound. The healing phases consist of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Postoperative pain causes surgical stress, which disrupts wound healing by delaying the transition from the inflammatory phase to the proliferative phase. Ropivacaine infiltration is expected to reduce surgical stress. One of the parameters that can be used to assess wound healing is Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) expression. This study aims to evaluate the infiltration effect of ropivacaine on the expression of VEGF in post-surgical skin defects in Wistar rats. Methods: This study was an experimental study using 32 Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus), which were randomly divided into 2 groups. With a 2 cm full-thickness wound incision, the ropivacaine group was given 0.2% 1 ml of ropivacaine infiltration, while the control group was given NaCl infiltration. 0.9% 1 ml. Tissue samples were taken on day 5 to calculate VEGF expression through immunohistochemical examination. Data were analyzed using SPSS versin 23.0 for Windows. Results: Assessment of the weight of the Wistar rats did not show a significant difference (p = 0.788). Using the IRS (Immunoreactivity Score), there was a significant difference in VEGF expression (p = 0.033) between the two groups. There were significant differences in the degree of VEGF cells between the two groups (p = 0.001). Analysis of the relationship between treatment and degree of VEGF cells showed a significant relationship (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Infiltration of ropivacaine had effects on the expression of VEGF in postsurgical skin defects of Wistar rats.