Cumulative Morphine Consumption Research Articles

Comparison of the effects of subcostal anterior quadratus lumborum block and thoracic paravertebral block in laparoscopic nephrectomy: a randomized study.

Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) may provide sufficient postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic nephrectomy (LSN) by ensuring ipsilateral somatic and visceral analgesia. However, there are serious reservations due to the complexity of the technique, and various complications thereof. Subcostal anterior quadratus lumborum block (S-QLB3) may be a safe alternative in LSN procedures. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the postoperative analgesic effects of TPVB and S-QLB3. This prospective, randomized, double-blind study included 60 patients aged 18-70 years who were planned to undergo LSN. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either unilateral ultrasound-guided S-QLB3 or TPVB. The primary outcome was postoperative cumulative 24-h morphine consumption. In addition, numeric rating scale (NRS) scores at rest/activity and the American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ-R-TR) scores were also evaluated. While postoperative cumulative 24-h morphine consumption was lower in the TPVB group compared to the other group (mean±SD, 12±3.4 mg vs. 15.4±7.8 mg, P=0.03), NRS pain scores at rest/activity were similar in both groups at all measurement points. Considering the postoperative APS-POQ-R-TR data, only the score related to the pain-daily activity relationship was high in the S-QLB3 group (median [Q1-Q3], 0 [0-1] vs. 2 [0-5], P=0.004), whereas there was no difference between the other scores. In this study, NRS and APS-POQ-R-TR scores were similar in the S-QLB3 and TPVB groups, whereas cumulative morphine consumption was modestly lower in the TPVB group. This suggested that S-QLB3 could be an alternative to TPVB in patients undergoing LSN.

Effect of Adding Dexamethasone to Bupivacaine in Ultrasound Guided Adductor Canal Block for Post-operative Analgesia Following Knee Arthroscopy

Abstract Background Arthroscopic knee surgery refers to a large variety of surgical interventions in the knee, and numerous analgesic regimens have been investigated in order to find the best combination of analgesics for these procedures. The post-operative pain response depends on the type and duration of surgical intervention, and it can be challenging to predict which analgesic regimen will be the most appropriate for each patient until after surgery. Aim of the Work Assessing the effect of adding dexamethasone perineurally to bupivacaine in adductor canal block for post operative analgesia following knee arthroscopy under spinal anaesthesia regarding; duration of postoperative analgesia as a primary objective and one-day postoperative analgesic and opioid consumption as a secondary objective. Patients and Methods The type of study was a randomized prospective double blinded controlled clinical trial at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. Study Period: Six months, Adult patients undergoing Knee Arthroscopy under Spinal Anaesthesia will be randomly assigned into one of the following groups using computer generated codes and opaque sealed envelopes: Group A (study group): The patients received ACB with 20 ml plain bupivacaine (0.25%) + 8 mg dexamethasone (2 ml), Group B (control group): The patients received ACB with 20 ml plain bupivacaine (0.25%) + 2 ml of Normal saline. Results There was a highly statistically significant difference between groups according to analgesic duration (time of first call for analgesics) (min) with p-value (p < 0.001). The highest value was found in group A(study) and group B(control) (241.02±36.15 and 188.49±28.27) respectively, this indicates that that the needs of analgesic in the group B were earlier compared to group A. There was a highly statistically significant difference between groups according to cumulative morphine consumption “mg” with p-value (p < 0.001). The highest value was found in Group B and Group A 4 (3-4) and 2 (1-2) respectively, this indicates much higher needs of analgesic in the Group B than group A. Conclusion We concluded that ACB is a good postoperative analgesic choice for arthroscopic knee surgery under spinal anaesthesia. However, adding (8 mg)dexamethasone to(0.25%) bupivacaine in ACB provided better prolonged postoperative analgesia and less analgesic consumption than bupivacaine alone.

The Efficacy of Fascia Iliaca Block for Pain Control after Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Total hip arthroplasty (THA) are common surgical procedures for treatment of the degenerative disorders and traumatic diseases. However, a majority of patients often experience moderate to severe postoperative pain after THA. Postoperative pain control has a significant impact on earlier ambulation, initiation of physiotherapy, and better functional recovery. In addition, effective pain control would lower the length of hospital stay and the risk of thrombotic events which improves patients’ satisfaction. Aim of the Study To assess the efficacy and safety of FICB compared with standard multimodal analgesia in patients undergoing THA. Patients and Methods Ninety adult patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty (THA), under spinal anesthesia were included in this study. The patients' age was ranging from 18 to 65 years and with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class II and III. Patients were included in the study, and were divided into two groups (n = 42; each); group FICB and control group. Results At PACU arrival there is no difference between two groups as two groups were recovering from anesthesia then facia illiaca block group showed the best response as regard as pain control post operatively for 12 hours postoperative then there is no statistical difference between two groups. There was statistically significant difference between groups as regard as visual analog score. As regard to total dose of morphine used in each group, facia illiaca block scientifically used less amount of morphine than control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion Fascia iliaca compartment block is effective for pain relief during the early post-operative period after total hip arthroplasty. Meanwhile, it can reduce the cumulative morphine consumption and the risk of opioid-related adverse effects.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: The effects of intermittent bolus paravertebral block on analgesia and recovery in open hepatectomy: a randomized, double-blinded, controlled study

BackgroundWe aimed to investigate the effects of intermittent bolus paravertebral block on analgesia and recovery in open hepatectomy.MethodsEighty 18–70 years old, American Society of Anesthesiologists level I-III patients scheduled for hepatectomy with a J-shaped subcostal incision were enrolled and randomized to receive either intermittent bolus paravertebral ropivacaine (0.5% loading, 0.2% infusion) or 0.9% saline infusion at 1:1 ratio (25 ml loading before surgery, 0.125 ml/kg/h bolus for postoperative 48 h). The primary outcome was set as postoperative 48 h cumulative intravenous morphine consumption recorded by a patient-controlled analgesic pump.ResultsThirty-eight patients in each group completed the study. The cumulative morphine consumptions were lower in the paravertebral block than control group at postoperative 24 (difference -10.5 mg, 95%CI -16 mg to -6 mg, P < 0.001) and 48 (difference -12 mg, 95%CI -19.5 mg to -5 mg, P = 0.001) hours. The pain numerical rating scales at rest were lower in the paravertebral block than control group at postoperative 4 h (difference -2, 95%CI -3 to -1, P < 0.001). The active pain numerical rating scales were lower in the paravertebral block than control group at postoperative 12 h (difference -1, 95%CI -2 to 0, P = 0.005). Three months postoperatively, the paravertebral block group had lower rates of hypoesthesia (OR 0.28, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.75, P = 0.009) and numbness (OR 0.26, 95%CI 0.07 to 0.88, P = 0.024) than the control group.ConclusionsIntermittent bolus paravertebral block provided an opioid-sparing effect and enhanced recovery both in hospital and after discharge in patients undergoing hepatectomy. Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov (NCT04304274), date: 11/03/2020.

Analgesic efficacy of anterior iliopsoas muscle space block combined with local infiltration analgesia after total hip arthroplasty: A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BackgroundThe present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided anterior iliopsoas muscle space block (AIMSB) combined with local infiltration analgesia (LIA) for pain management and recovery in patients who have undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA) via a posterolateral approach. MethodsIn this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 80 patients undergoing primary THA under general anesthesia were included in the final analysis between March 22, 2022, and June 1, 2022. All patients were randomly assigned to receive AIMSB combined with LIA (AIMSB group, n = 40) or sham AIMSB and LIA (Sham group, n = 40). The primary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption (mg) within 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes were pain scores on a visual analog scale (VAS) at rest or during motion after surgery, time to first rescue analgesia, cumulative morphine consumption during hospitalization, intraoperative consumption of opioids, postoperative recovery, and postoperative adverse effects. ResultsPatients in the AIMSB group consumed significantly less morphine than the Sham group within the first 24 h and throughout hospitalization, as well as smaller amounts of intraoperative opioids. Also, significantly lower pain scores were recorded at rest or during motion within 24 h after surgery in AIMSB patients. Patients in the AIMSB group recovered more quickly than Sham patients. No significant difference was observed in quadriceps strength and postoperative complications between the two groups. ConclusionsCompared to treatment with LIA alone, ultrasound-guided AIMSB combined with LIA can provide better postoperative pain relief, decrease opioid consumption, promote motor sparing, and enhance the recovery of THA patients.

Comparison of the postoperative analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided suprainguinal fascia iliaca block applied with two different concentrations of bupivacaine in patients undergoing hip surgery under spinal anesthesia

Aim: Management of postoperative pain in hip surgeries is important for the quality of recovery. When regional anesthesia techniques are added to the multimodal analgesia plan, they increase the effectiveness of the analgesia plan. Supra-inguinal fascia iliaca block (SIFIB) is a technique that has been reported to be effective in hip surgery but requires the use of high-volume local anesthetics. Our aim in this retrospective study is to investigate the efficacy of local anesthetic in SIFIB when administered at a concentration lower than the conventional concentration.Material and Methods: The files of the patients who underwent hip hemiarthroplasty were planned to be evaluated retrospectively. Patients were grouped according to the bupivacaine concentration used in SIFIB (0.25% vs. 0.20%) and statistically evaluated in terms of morphine requirement, pain scores, and time to first analgesic.Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of NRS score and cumulative morphine consumption at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th, and 24th hours (p&gt;0.05). When compared the first analgesia requirement times, there was no significant difference between Groups (p&gt;0.05).Conclusion: A single shot SIFIB administered at a concentration of 0.20% also has analgesic properties, as do the conventional concentration of SIFIB containing 0.25% bupivacaine.

Association between intraoperative remifentanil use and postoperative hyperalgesia in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery: a retrospective study

BackgroundThe liberal use of remifentanil in spine surgery has been associated with an increased incidence of postoperative hyperalgesia. Nevertheless, controversies remain as the existing evidence is inconclusive to determine the relationship between remifentanil use and the development of opioid-induced hyperalgesia. We hypothesized that intraoperative infusion of higher dose remifentanil during scoliosis surgery is associated with postoperative hyperalgesia, manifesting clinically as greater postoperative morphine consumption and pain scores.MethodsNinety-seven patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who underwent posterior spinal fusion surgery at a single tertiary institution from March 2019 until June 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Anesthesia was maintained using a target-controlled infusion of remifentanil combined with volatile anesthetic desflurane in 92 patients, while five patients received it as part of total intravenous anesthesia. Intravenous ketamine, paracetamol, and fentanyl were administered as multimodal analgesia. All patients received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) morphine postoperatively. Pain scores at rest and on movement, assessed using the numerical rating scale, and the cumulative PCA morphine consumption were collected at a six-hourly interval for up to 48 h. According to the median intraoperative remifentanil dose usage of 0.215 µg/kg/min, patients were divided into two groups: low dose and high dose group.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the pain score and cumulative PCA morphine consumption between the low and high dose remifentanil group. The mean duration of remifentanil infusion was 134.9 ± 22.0 and 123.4 ± 23.7 min, respectively.ConclusionIntraoperative use of remifentanil as an adjuvant in AIS patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion surgery was not associated with postoperative hyperalgesia.

Comparison of regional anesthetic techniques for postoperative analgesia after adult cardiac surgery: bayesian network meta-analysis.

Patients usually suffer acute pain after cardiac surgery. Numerous regional anesthetic techniques have been used for those patients under general anesthesia. The most effective regional anesthetic technique was still unclear. Five databases were searched, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library. The efficiency outcomes were pain scores, cumulative morphine consumption, and the need for rescue analgesia in this Bayesian analysis. Postoperative nausea, vomiting and pruritus were safety outcomes. Functional outcomes included the time to tracheal extubation, ICU stay, hospital stay, and mortality. This meta-analysis included 65 randomized controlled trials involving 5,013 patients. Eight regional anesthetic techniques were involved, including thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA), erector spinae plane block, and transversus thoracic muscle plane block. Compared to controls (who have not received regional anesthetic techniques), TEA reduced the pain scores at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h both at rest and cough, decreased the rate of need for rescue analgesia (OR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.016-0.55), shortened the time to tracheal extubation (MD = -181.55, 95% CI: -243.05 to -121.33) and the duration of hospital stay (MD = -0.73, 95% CI: -1.22 to -0.24). Erector spinae plane block reduced the pain score 6 h at rest and the risk of pruritus, shortened the duration of ICU stay compared to controls. Transversus thoracic muscle plane block reduced the pain scores 6 and 12 h at rest compared to controls. The cumulative morphine consumption of each technique was similar at 24, 48 h. Other outcomes were also similar among these regional anesthetic techniques. TEA seems the most effective regional postoperative anesthesia for patients after cardiac surgery by reducing the pain scores and decreasing the rate of need for rescue analgesia. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, ID: CRD42021276645.

Efficacy of perioperative duloxetine as a part of multimodal analgesia in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgeries

BackgroundAlthough laparoscopic surgery provides earlier recovery, less morbidity and hospital stay, however, severe pain is still a problem after it. Duloxetine has been recently used in postoperative pain management. We tested perioperative duloxetine to evaluate its effect on patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.MethodsSixty patients were enrolled in this study divided into two equal groups; duloxetine group each patient received an oral duloxetine capsule (60 mg) 1st dose at night before surgery, the 2nd dose 1 h preoperative, and the 3rd dose 24 h postoperative. Placebo group received placebo capsules at the same times. The cumulative morphine consumption in 48 h, postoperative VAS score, quality of recovery (QoR-40 score), sedation, and adverse effects were evaluated.ResultsDuloxetine group had lower VAS scores compared to placebo group, (3 ± 0.69) VS. (4.17 ± 0.83), (2.5 ± 0.6) VS. (4.3 ± 0.9), (2.2 ± 0.7) VS. (3.9 ± 0.6), (1.6 ± 0.7) VS. (3.6 ± 0.8), (1.1 ± 0.8) VS. (3.7 ± 0.7), (0.7 ± 0.7) VS. (3.5 ± 0.8), (0.6 ± 0.7) VS. (3.5 ± 0.8) respectively, P ˂0.01. The cumulative morphine consumption was significantly reduced in the Duloxetine group compared to the placebo group (4.6 ± 2.9 vs. 11.3 ± 1.7 mg), P < 0.01. The total QoR-40 score for duloxetine group was (180.8 ± 4.5) vs. (156 ± 5.9) in placebo group (P < 0.01). Patients in Duloxetine group were more sedated in all the 48 h postoperatively in comparison to placebo group.ConclusionsPerioperative duloxetine had reduced postoperative pain, decreased opioid consumption, and improved the quality of recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Paravertebral block combined with serratus anterior plane block after video-assisted thoracic surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Adequate pain management after thoracoscopic surgery is a major issue in the prevention of respiratory complications. The combination of the paravertebral block (PVB) with the serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) may decrease postoperative pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the combination of PVB and SAPB on the consumption of morphine and pain after video- or robot-assisted thoracic surgery. The main objective of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the cumulative postoperative morphine consumption at 24 h between a group having PVB (PVB group) and a group having PVB and SAPB (PV-SAPB group). Postoperative pain at 6 and 24 h and morphine-related complications were also assessed. A total of 112 patients were included with 56 in each group. There was no difference in median cumulative morphine consumption at 24 h between the 2 groups (P = 0.1640). At 6 h, the median postoperative pain was higher in the PVB group compared to the PV-SAPB group (3 [0; 4] vs 2 [0; 3], P = 0.0231). There were no differences between the 2 groups for pain at 24 h and morphine-related complications. We did not find any difference in morphine consumption between the 2 groups. Our results suggest that the combination of PVB and SAPB for video-assisted thoracic surgery or robot-assisted thoracic surgery is safe effective and reliable and could be an alternative to PVB alone in certain indications.

Analgesic efficacy of selective tibial nerve block versus partial local infiltration analgesia for posterior pain after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized, controlled, triple-blinded trial

BackgroundThe adductor canal block provides pain relief on the anterior aspect of the knee after arthroplasty. Pain on the posterior aspect may be treated either by partial local infiltration analgesia of the posterior capsule or by a tibial nerve block. This randomized, controlled, triple-blinded trial tests the hypothesis that a tibial nerve block would provide superior analgesia compared to posterior capsule infiltration in patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia with an adductor canal block. MethodsSixty patients were randomized to receive either infiltration of the posterior capsule by the surgeon with ropivacaine 0.2%, 25 mL, or a tibial nerve block with 10 mL of ropivacaine 0.5%. Sham injections were performed to guarantee proper blinding. The primary outcome was intravenous morphine consumption at 24 h. Secondary outcomes included intravenous morphine consumption, pain scores at rest and on movement, and different functional outcomes, measured at up to 48 h. When necessary, longitudinal analyses were performed with a mixed-effects linear model. ResultsThe median (interquartile range) of cumulative intravenous morphine consumption at 24 h was 12 mg (4–16) and 8 mg (2–14) in patients having the infiltration or the tibial nerve block respectively (p = 0.20). Our longitudinal model showed a significant interaction between group and time in favor of the tibial nerve block (p = 0.015). No significant differences were present between groups in the other above-mentioned secondary outcomes. ConclusionA tibial nerve block does not provide superior analgesia when compared to infiltration. However, a tibial nerve block might be associated with a slower increase in morphine consumption over time.

Erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in robotically-assisted coronary artery bypass surgery: Results of a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Study objectiveTo investigate if an erector spinae plane (ESP) block decreases postoperative opioid consumption, pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing robotically-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery (RAMIDCAB). DesignA single-center, double-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SettingPostoperative period; operating room, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital ward in a university hospital. PatientsSixty-four patients undergoing RAMIDCAB surgery via left-sided mini-thoracotomy and enrolled in the institutional enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery program. InterventionsAt the end of surgery, patients received an ESP catheter at vertebra T5 under ultrasound guidance and were randomized to the administration of either ropivacaine 0.5% (loading dose of 30 ml and three additional doses of 20 ml each, interspersed with a 6 h interval) or normal saline 0.9% (with an identical administration scheme). In addition, patients received multimodal analgesia including acetaminophen, dexamethasone and patient-controlled analgesia with morphine. Following the final ESP bolus and before catheter removal, the position of the catheter was re-evaluated by ultrasound. Patients, investigators and medical personnel were blinded for the group allocation during the entire trial. MeasurementsPrimary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption during the first 24 h after extubation. Secondary outcomes included location and severity of pain, presence/extent of sensory block, duration of postoperative ventilation and hospital length of stay. Safety outcomes comprised the incidence of adverse events. Main resultsMedian (IQR) 24-h morphine consumption was not different between the intervention- and control-groups, 67 mg (35–84) versus 71 mg (52–90) (p = 0.25), respectively. Likewise, no differences were detected in secondary and safety endpoints. ConclusionsFollowing RAMIDCAB surgery, adding an ESP block to a standard multimodal analgesia regimen did not reduce opioid consumption and pain scores.

Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Versus Rectus Sheath Block for Postoperative Pain After Caesarean Delivery: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Postoperative analgesia in caesarean deliveries is becoming increasingly important, since early bonding between mother and infant can be established with effective postoperative analgesia while preventing the unpleasant effects of pain. Additionally, inadequate postoperative analgesia is associated with chronic pain and postpartum depression. The primary objective of this study was to compare the analgesic effects of transversus abdominis plane block and rectus sheath block in patients undergoing elective caesarean delivery. A total of 90 parturients with American Society of Anesthesia status I-II, aged 18-45 years, at >37 gestational weeks, and scheduled for elective caesarean delivery were included in the study. All patients received spinal anaesthesia. Parturients were randomised into 3 groups. Bilateral ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block was performed on the transversus abdominis plane group, bilateral ultrasoundguided rectus sheath block on the rectus sheath group, and no block on the control group. All patients were given intravenous morphine through a patient-controlled analgesia device. A pain nurse, blinded to the study, recorded the cumulative morphine consumption and pain scores during resting and coughing using a numerical rating scale at postoperative hours 1, 6, 12, and 24. Numerical rating scale values recorded during rest and coughing were lower in the transversus abdominis plane group at postoperative hours 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 (P < .05). Morphine consumption was lower in the transversus abdominis plane group at postoperative hours 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 (P < .05). Transversus abdominis plane block provides effective postoperative analgesia in parturients. However, rectus sheath block provides inadequate postoperative analgesia in parturients who undergo caesarean delivery.

Efficacy of erector spinae plane block for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: Results of a double-blind, prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial

Study objectiveTo investigate if an erector spinae plane (ESP) block decreases postoperative opioid consumption, pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS). DesignA single-center, double-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SettingPostoperative period; operating room, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital ward in a university hospital. PatientsSeventy-two patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic MIMVS via right-sided mini-thoracotomy and enrolled in the institutional enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery program. InterventionsAt the end of surgery, all patients received an ESP catheter at vertebra T5 under ultrasound guidance and were randomized to the administration of either ropivacaine 0.5% (loading of dose 30 ml and three additional doses of 20 ml with a 6 h interval) or normal saline 0.9% (with an identical administration scheme). In addition, patients received multimodal postoperative analgesia including dexamethasone, acetaminophen and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with morphine. Following the final ESP bolus and before catheter removal, the position of the catheter was re-evaluated by ultrasound. Patients, investigators and medical personnel were blinded for the group allocation during the entire trial. MeasurementsPrimary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption during the first 24 h after extubation. Secondary outcomes included severity of pain, presence/extent of sensory block, duration of postoperative ventilation and hospital length of stay. Safety outcomes comprised the incidence of adverse events. Main resultsMedian (IQR) 24-h morphine consumption was not different between the intervention- and control-group, 41 mg (30–55) versus 37 mg (29–50) (p = 0.70), respectively. Likewise, no differences were detected for secondary and safety endpoints. ConclusionsFollowing MIMVS, adding an ESP block to a standard multimodal analgesia regimen did not reduce opioid consumption and pain scores.

Randomized clinical trial comparing pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block and periarticular local anesthetic infiltration for total hip arthroplasty

BackgroundThis randomized trial compared pericapsular nerve group block and periarticular local anesthetic infiltration in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty. We hypothesized that, compared with pericapsular nerve group block, periarticular...

Subcostal transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia in liver transplant recipients: a before-and-after study

IntroductionPostoperative pain management after orthotopic liver transplantation is complex due to impaired liver function and frequent acute kidney dysfunction. Subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block may be of interest in...

Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block Combined With Local Infiltration Analgesia on Postoperative Pain After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundThis study examined whether pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block combined with local infiltration analgesia (LIA) could improve pain management and functional recovery after total hip arthroplasty. MethodsAll patients were randomly assigned to receive PENG block combined with LIA (PENG group) or sham PENG block and LIA (Sham group). The primary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption within 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes were pain scores on a visual analog scale (VAS); time to first rescue analgesia; cumulative morphine consumption during hospitalization; intraoperative consumption of opioids; postoperative recovery; and postoperative complications. ResultsPENG patients consumed significantly less morphine within the first 24 hours and throughout hospitalization and smaller amounts of intraoperative opioids. There were significantly lower pain scores at rest and during motion within 24 hours in PENG patients. PENG patients took significantly longer until the first rescue analgesia and showed significantly better postoperative rehabilitation. However, the absolute change in morphine consumption and VAS scores did not exceed the reported minimal clinically important differences (morphine consumption: 10 mg; VAS scores: 1.5 at rest and 1.8 during movement). The two groups showed no difference in quadriceps muscle strength and postoperative complications. ConclusionPENG block combined with LIA could improve postoperative pain relief, reduce opioid use, and enhance recovery in total hip arthroplasty patients, without weakening the quadriceps muscle strength. This work justifies further trials to examine the safety and efficacy of this block and to explore maximal effective volume of local anesthetic for motor-sparing PENG block.

Efficacy of postoperative analgesia with duloxetine in posthemorrhoidectomy pain: a prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial

BackgroundTo evaluate the effect of duloxetine when added to a multimodal analgesia regimen on posthemorrhoidectomy pain, opioid consumption, and side effects.MethodsProspective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. This study included 62 patients who underwent hemorrhoidectomy. The patients were randomly assigned to receive oral duloxetine 60 mg or placebo 2 h before and 24 h after surgery. The primary outcomes were pain intensity - measured on an 11-point visual analog pain scale - and cumulative morphine consumption at 12, 24, and 48 postoperative hours.ResultsFifty-two patients completed the study (25 in the duloxetine group and 27 in the placebo group). Pain scores did not differ between duloxetine and placebo: 4.5; 3.0 – 7.0 vs. 5.0; 3.5 – 7.0, p = 0.68 at 12 h, 3.0; 2.0 – 5.0 vs. 3.0; 2.0 – 5.0, p = 0.56 at 24 h, and 2.5; 1.75 – 3.75 vs. 1.5; 0.5 – 3, p = 0.08 at 48 h. Further, cumulative morphine consumption did not differ between the duloxetine and placebo groups: 4; 1.25 – 10.75 mg vs. 7; 1.0 – 12.0 mg, p = 0.68 at 12 h, 9.5; 2.0 – 17.5 mg vs. 8.0; 4.0 – 18.0 mg; p = 0.80 at 24 h, and 11.0; 2.0 – 27.0 mg vs. 10; 4.0 – 24.0 mg, p = 0.78 at 48 h. Side effects did not differ between the groups.ConclusionsCompared with placebo, duloxetine did not decrease pain intensity or morphine consumption during the first 48 h postoperatively.Trial registrationThe study was retrospectively registered on the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (identifier: RBR-9pdgms, registration date: 08/10/2020).

Systemic glucocorticoids as an adjunct to treatment of postoperative pain after total hip and knee arthroplasty: A systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Postoperative analgesic effects of systemic glucocorticoids given as an adjunct to treatment are largely undetermined in alloplastic procedures. To investigate the beneficial and harmful effects of peri-operative systemic glucocorticoid treatment for pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A systematic review of randomised clinical trials (RCTs) with meta-analyses, trial sequential analyses and GRADE. Primary outcome was 24 h intravenous (i.v.) morphine (or equivalent) consumption with a predefined minimal important difference (MID) of 5 mg. Secondary outcomes included pain at rest and during mobilisation (MID, VAS 10 mm), adverse and serious adverse events (SAEs). We searched EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed and Google Scholar up to October 2021. RCTs investigating peri-operative systemic glucocorticoid versus placebo or no intervention, for analgesic pain management of patients at least 18 years undergoing planned THA or TKA, irrespective of publication date and language. We included 32 RCTs with 3521 patients. Nine trials were at a low risk of bias. Meta-analyses showed evidence of a reduction in 24 h cumulative morphine consumption with glucocorticoids by 5.0 mg (95% CI 2.2 to 7.7; P = 0.0004). Pain at rest was reduced at 6 h by 7.8 mm (95% CI 5.5 to 10.2; P < 0.00001), and at 24 h by 6.3 mm (95% CI 3.8 to 8.8; P < 0.00001). Pain during mobilisation was reduced at 6 h by 9.8 mm (95% CI 6.9 to 12.8; P < 0.00001), and at 24 h by 9.0 mm (95% CI 5.5 to 12.4, P < 0.00001). Incidence of adverse events was generally lower in the glucocorticoid treatment group. SAEs were rarely reported. The GRADE rated quality of evidence was low to very low. Peri-operative systemic glucocorticoid treatment reduced postoperative morphine consumption to an individually relevant level following hip and knee arthroplasty. Pain levels were reduced but were below the predefined MID. The quality of evidence was generally low. PROSPERO ID: CRD42019135034.

Bilateral bi-level erector spinae plane blocks in scoliosis surgery: a retrospective comparative study.

This study aimed to compare the effect of the ultrasound (US) guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) on pain scores, opioid requirement, patient satisfaction, and the length of hospital stay with standard analgesia methods following scoliosis surgery. Twenty-seven patients (17 females, 10 males; mean age=15.59 ± 3.24 years) who underwent scoliosis surgery with preoperative bilateral bilevel US-guided ESPB were the sample group, and the remaining 30 patients (20 females, 10 males; mean age = 15.57 ± 2.75 years) without ESPB were the control group. Bilateral bilevel injection ESPB was performed at two levels (T4 and T10). Postoperative pain scores, morphine consumption, patient satisfaction scores, and the number of patients requiring rescue analgesia were recorded. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to score postoperative pain. VAS at rest and when mobile, as well as postoperative cumulative morphine consumption in the first postoperative 24 h, was significantly lower in the ESPB group. Thirteen patients in the control group but no in the ESPB group required rescue analgesics in the postoperative period. Both the time to the requirement of the initial dose of PCA and patient satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the ESPB group (P < 0.001 for both). Given the need for improved recovery of the patients, ESPB seems to be an essential analgesic technique that may reduce both opioid consumption and the severity of the pain, thus increasing the satisfaction of the patients and decreasing the length of hospital stay. Level IV, Therapeutic Study.