Abstract
Cryoanalgesia, or cryoablation, has emerged as a promising approach for postoperative pain control in pediatric patients undergoing minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair. Traditional pain management strategies, including thoracic epidural and patient-controlled analgesia, can effectively reduce pain but often lead to increased hospital stays and opioid dependency, which may delay recovery and heighten risks. Cryoablation addresses these challenges by targeting intercostal nerves, temporarily blocking pain transmission and minimizing opioid requirements. This systematic review analyzes studies sourced from PubMed that evaluate cryoanalgesia’s effectiveness, comparing short- and long-term outcomes of pain control, functional recovery, and patient quality of life following the Nuss procedure. Findings show that cryoanalgesia significantly reduces acute pain, hospital stay length, and opioid use. However, residual symptoms, including mild discomfort and chest sensations, persist in some patients, suggesting a need for improved long-term management and anticipatory guidance. This review provides evidence supporting cryoanalgesia as a beneficial alternative for pain control in pediatric pectus excavatum repair while addressing gaps in research on long-term symptomatology and quality of life.
Published Version
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