Early Postoperative Pain Research Articles

Clinical efficacy and pain control of diode laser-assisted flap surgery in the treatment of chronic periodontitis:A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo assess the diode laser-assisted periodontal flap surgery's clinical effectiveness and postoperative pain management in treating chronic periodontitis, and to offer evidence-based medical justification for the procedure's clinical use. Data sources and study selectionIn this study, a computer combined with manual search was used to search for articles on diode laser-assisted periodontal flap surgery for the treatment of chronic periodontitis published from the establishment of the database to September 2023. The databases searched included China Academic Journal Full Text Database (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang Database, PubMed, Web of science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus. Two researchers independently performed the screening and study selection, following the inclusion and exclusion standards to extract basic information and required data. Meta-analysis of the included literature was performed using Revman V5.4 software. ResultThirteen articles were analyzed. Meta-analysis showed that the use of the diode laser was effective in reducing patients' probing pocket depth (PPD) at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (3 months: MD = −0.46, 95 % CI = [−0.89, −0.03], P = 0.04; 6 months: MD = −0.35, 95 % CI = [−0.63, −0.06], P = 0.02), was able to effectively improve 3 month clinical attachment level (CAL) (MD = −0.36, 95 % CI = [−0.66, −0.06], P = 0.02), and was able to promote wound healing and reduce patients' early postoperative pain (MD = 0.67, 95 % CI = [0.01, 1.32], P = 0.05; MD = −1.67, 95 % CI = [−2.23, −1.00], and P < 0. 001), while for gingival index (GI), the use of diode laser did not have a significant effect. ConclusionsThe available evidence suggests that the use of a diode laser adjunct is effective in reducing PPD, improving CAL, promoting wound healing, and reducing early postoperative pain in patients compared with flap application alone; however, for GI, diode lasers did not show any improvements. Clinical significancePeriodontal flap surgery fails to eliminate microorganisms from the soft tissue wall, potentially leading to recolonization, reinfection, and accompanying side effects such as pain and swelling. The use of a diode laser reduces PPD, improves CAL, and relieves early postoperative pain.

Does selective intraoperative music reduce pain following abdominal wall reconstruction? A double-blind randomized controlled trial

PurposeAlthough intraoperative music is purported to mitigate postoperative pain after some procedures, its application has never been explored in abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). We sought to determine whether intraoperative music would decrease early postoperative pain following AWR.MethodsWe conducted a placebo-controlled, patient-, surgeon-, and assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial at a single center between June 2022 and July 2023 including 321 adult patients undergoing open AWR with retromuscular mesh. Patients received noise-canceling headphones and were randomized 1:1 to patient-selected music or silence after induction, stratified by preoperative chronic opioid use. All patients received multimodal pain control. The primary outcome was pain (NRS-11) at 24 ± 3 h. The primary outcome was analyzed by linear regression with pre-specified covariates (chronic opioid use, hernia width, operative time, myofascial release, anxiety disorder diagnosis, and preoperative STAI-6 score).Results178 patients were randomized to music, 164 of which were analyzed. 177 were randomized to silence, 157 of which were analyzed. At 24 ± 3 h postoperatively, there was no difference in the primary outcome of NRS-11 scores (5.18 ± 2.62 vs 5.27 ± 2.46, p = 0.75). After adjusting for prespecified covariates, the difference of NRS-11 scores at 24 ± 3 h between the music and silence groups remained insignificant (p = 0.83). There was no difference in NRS-11 or STAI-6 scores at 48 ± 3 and 72 ± 3 h, intraoperative sedation, or postoperative narcotic usage.ConclusionFor patients undergoing AWR, there was no benefit of intraoperative music over routine multimodal pain control for early postoperative pain reduction.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05374096.

Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia by orthopaedic surgeons in fixation of distal radius fracture

The technique of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia has demonstrated satisfactory efficacy and safety in fixation of various fractures. There are limited studies performed concerning the applicability of a surgeon self-performed ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a self-performed ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia by surgeon for distal radius fracture fixation in terms of intraoperative and post-operative characteristics. Material and Methods: Patients with distal radius fracture who underwent surgery under the surgeon-performed ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia were evaluated in this retrospective study. A total of 12 patients (2 male/10 female) with a mean age of 60.6 were evaluated for the type of injury by AO classification, American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification (ASA), intraoperative visual analog scale pain (VAS) scores, duration of operation, post-operative pain control, complications and duration of hospitalisation. Result: Average age of the study population was 60.6, of which four of them were of ASA I, six of them ASA II and two of them ASA III. We provided complete pain control during the operation with all of the patient experience no pain (VAS = 0) throughout the operation. Average operative time was 77.5 min. Average blood loss was 7.7 mL. Early post-operative pain control at 6 h after operation was well with majority of patients experience pain of VAS 1. Average post-operative hospital length of stay is 2.08 days. There was no complication arising from the application of regional anesthesia. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia can provide excellent efficacy and pain control during and after operation. Occurrence of complication was well avoided. Distal radius fracture fixation can be performed safely by orthopaedic surgeons under this technique.

Opioid-sparing effects of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a randomized controlled study

BackgroundThe erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a new analgesic method used in thoracic surgery. However, few studies have characterized their effects on perioperative opioid consumption. We aimed to evaluate the effects of ESPB on perioperative opioid consumption in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).MethodsThis was a randomized, observer-blinded clinical trial at a single-centre academic hospital. Eighty patients were scheduled for thoracoscopic segmentectomy or lobectomy by VATS for lung cancer. Forty participants were randomly assigned to ESPB or control group. All patients received intravenous patient-controlled postoperative analgesia. Perioperative opioid consumption, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and adverse events were recorded.ResultsIntraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption and static/dynamic VAS scores were significantly lower in the early hours after VATS in the ESPB group (p < 0.05) than the control group. No significant differences were observed in adverse effects between the two groups.ConclusionsESPB reduced intraoperative opioid consumption and early postoperative pain in patients undergoing VATS. Our findings support the view that ESPB is a safe and highly effective option for regional analgesia for VATS.Trial registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR1800019335.

Early postoperative pain and 30-day complications following major abdominal surgery: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundIncreasing evidence supports a positive relationship between the intensity of early postoperative pain, and the risk of 30-day postoperative complications. Higher pain levels may hamper recovery and contribute to immunosuppression...

Can Verbal Interview Decrease Preoperative Anxiety and Postoperative Discomfort in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Patients?: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BackgroundPreoperative anxiety is a condition that can be seen frequently in oral and maxillofacial surgery patients and affects the recovery process. PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of preoperative educational/informative interviews on preoperative anxiety levels and postoperative discomfort in patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery. Study design, setting, sampleThis prospective randomized clinical trial involved patients who underwent oral and maxillofacial surgery at Aydın-Adnan-Menderes University, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Hospital. Patients with neurological or psychological disorders, a history of previous psychiatric drug use, those who used anxiolytic or sedative drugs before surgery, those who required postoperative anxiolytic and opioid administration, or patients who underwent nonstandard surgical and anesthesia protocols were excluded. Exposure VariablePreoperative educational/informative interview is the exposure variable. Subjects were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. Main outcome variablesThe primary outcome variable was preoperative anxiety measured by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information scale (APAIS). The secondary outcome variables were postoperative pain measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at the first and sixth hours, postoperative nausea (repeated gagging or spitting), and postoperative vomiting (active vomiting)were observed within 6 hours following general anaesthesia. CovariatesThe study’s covariates were age, weight, sex, American Society of Anes-thesiologists Physical Status Classification System (ASA) score, marital status, edicational background, surgery procedure, anesthesia procedure, duration of surgery, recovery time. AnalysesThe chi-square and student t-tests were used to compare primary predictor and covariates against outcome variables. A p-value <.05 was considered significant. ResultsA total of 92 patients were included in this study, with 46 randomized to intervention group and 46 to control group. The mean age (37.78±13.94 years vs 33.34±15.17 years, p=0.16) and sex differences (female/male: 16/30(34.8/65.2) vs 26/20(56.5/43.5), p=0.06) were comparable between groups. While higher values were recorded in the average anxiety scores in the control group than in the study group, statistically significant differences were found [STAI-S (37.36±10.87 vs 52.39±12.13) (p<0.01), APAIS-T (15.82±5.35 vs 21.39±6.69) (p<0.01), APAIS-A (4.17±2.12 vs 6.47±2.15) (p<0.01), APAIS-B (5.76±2.03 vs 7.65±2.60) (p<0.01), and APAIS-C (6.04±2.47 vs 7.21±2.38), (p<0.05)]. At the same time, there was also a significant difference in terms of early postoperative pain [(2.08±2.77 vs 3.43±2.86), (p=0.02)] and postoperative nausea [12/34 (26.1/73.9) vs 25/21(54.3/45.7), (p=0.01)]. Conclusions and RelevanceOral and maxillofacial surgery causes significant situational anxiety. This study showed that preoperative educational/informative interviews reduced preoperative anxiety levels and postoperative discomfort such as early postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Is endoscopic technique an effective and safe alternative for lumbar interbody fusion? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Systematic review; meta-analysis. Lumbar degenerative disease is frequent and has a tremendous impact on patients' disability and quality-of-life. Open and minimally invasive procedures have been used to achieve adequate decompression and fusion. Endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-LIF) is emerging as an alternative, trying to reduce morbidity, while achieving comparable to superior clinical outcomes. The aim of this work is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate how Endo-LIF compares to open or minimally invasive procedures. Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane) were systematically reviewed using the query: '(percutaneous OR endoscop*) AND (open OR minimal* invasive) AND lumbar AND fusion'. PRISMA guidelines were followed. Twenty-seven articles were included (25 cohort study, 1 quasi-experimental study, and 1 randomized control trial; for meta-analytical results, only observational studies were considered). Endo-LIF conditioned longer operative time, with significantly lower blood loss, bedtime, and hospital length of stay. Early post-operative back pain favored endoscopic techniques. Endo-LIF and non-Endo-LIF minimally invasive surgery displayed comparable results for most back and leg pain or disability outcomes, despite Endo-LIF having been associated with higher disability at late follow-up (versus Open-LIF). No differences were found regarding fusion rates, cage subsidence, or adverse events. Definitive conclusions regarding fusion rate cannot be drawn due to low number of studies and unstandardized fusion definition. Endo-LIF is an effective and safe alternative to conventional lumbar interbody fusion procedures. Evidence shortcomings may be addressed, and future randomized control trials may be performed to compare techniques and to validate results.

Unilateral biportal endoscopic versus microscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar degenerative disease: a retrospective study

BackgroundIn the past decade, Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) with a microscopic tubular technique has become a surgical procedure that reduces surgical-related morbidity, shortens hospital stays, and expedites early rehabilitation in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases (LDD). Unilateral biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-TLIF) has emerged as a novel surgical technique. The present study aims to compare the clinical outcomes and postoperative complications of MIS-TLIF and Endo-TLIF for treating LDD.MethodsA retrospective analysis of LLD patients undergoing either Endo-TLIF or MIS-TLIF was performed. Patient demographics, operative data (operation time, estimated blood loss, length of hospitalization), and complications were recorded. The visual analog scale (VAS) score for leg and back pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes.ResultsThis study involved 80 patients, 56 in the MIS-TLIF group and 34 in the Endo-TLIF group. The Endo-TLIF group showed a more substantial improvement in the VAS for back pain at 3 weeks post-surgery compared to the MIS-TLIF group. However, at the 1-year mark after surgery, there were no significant differences between the groups in the mean VAS for back pain and VAS for leg pain. Interestingly, the ODI at one year demonstrated a significant improvement in the Endo-TLIF group compared to the MIS-TLIF group. Additionally, the MIS-TLIF group exhibited a shorter operative time than the Endo-TLIF group, with no notable differences in estimated blood loss, length of hospitalization, and complications between the two groups.ConclusionEndo-TLIF and MIS-TLIF are both safe and effective for LDD. In surgical decision-making, clinicians may consider nuances revealed in this study, such as lower early postoperative back pain with Endo-TLIF and shorter operative time with MIS-TLIF.

Prevalence and patterns of neuropathic pain in people with chronic post-surgical pain after total knee arthroplasty.

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and patterns of neuropathic pain over one year in a cohort of patients with chronic post-surgical pain at three months following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Between 2016 and 2019, 363 patients with troublesome pain, defined as a score of ≤ 14 on the Oxford Knee Score pain subscale, three months after TKA from eight UK NHS hospitals, were recruited into the Support and Treatment After Replacement (STAR) clinical trial. Self-reported neuropathic pain and postoperative pain was assessed at three, nine, and 15 months after surgery using the painDETECT and Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaires collected by postal survey. Symptoms of neuropathic pain were common among patients reporting chronic pain at three months post-TKA, with half reporting neuropathic pain on painDETECT (191/363; 53%) and 74% (267/359) on DN4. Of those with neuropathic pain at three months, half continued to have symptoms over the next 12 months (148/262; 56%), one-quarter had improved (67/262; 26%), and for one-tenth their neuropathic symptoms fluctuated over time (24/262; 9%). However, a subgroup of participants reported new, late onset neuropathic symptoms (23/262; 9%). Prevalence of neuropathic symptoms was similar between the screening tools when the lower cut-off painDETECT score (≥ 13) was applied. Overall, mean neuropathic pain scores improved between three and 15 months after TKA. Neuropathic pain is common in patients with chronic pain at three months after TKA. Although neuropathic symptoms improved over time, up to half continued to report painful neuropathic symptoms at 15 months after TKA. Postoperative care should include screening, assessment, and treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with early chronic postoperative pain after TKA.

Comparing a robotic imageless second-generation system to traditional instrumentation in total knee arthroplasty: A matched cohort analysis

IntroductionRobotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) has gained interest from patients and surgeons alike. Robotic systems assist with gap balancing and bone cut accuracy, which can theoretically minimize post-operative pain by decreasing soft tissue damage. This study compared perioperative results, 30- and 90-day complications, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and survivorship to all-cause revisions between patients undergoing traditional versus rTKA. MethodsA total of 430 TKAs (215 rTKA, 215 traditional) by two fellowship trained arthroplasty surgeons were retrospectively reviewed from 2017 to 2022. All rTKAs were performed using the CORI Surgical System (Smith & Nephew, Memphis, Tennessee). Cohorts were propensity score matched by age, sex, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologist classification. Blood loss, surgical times, length of stays, 30- and 90-day complications, pain scores and PROs were compared with univariable analyses. Cox regression analyses evaluated survival to all-cause revisions. ResultsPatients undergoing rTKA had a higher incidence of discharge home (86.5 %–60.0 %) (p < 0.01). There was no difference in blood loss or surgical time. rTKA pain scores were lower in-hospital mean 2 (range, 0 to 9) vs 3 (range, 0 to 9) (p = 0.02) as well as at one-year post-operatively, mean 1 (range, 0 to 7) vs 2 (range, 0 to 10) (p = 0.02). Cox hazard ratio demonstrated no difference in survival to all-cause revisions (HR 1.3; CI 0.5 to 3.7) (p = 0.64). ConclusionThis matched cohort analysis demonstrated potential short-term benefits associated with imageless second generation rTKA including improved early post-operative pain, without compromising survivorship to all-cause revisions.

Comparison of effectiveness of intraoperative subperiosteal versus periarticular analgesic cocktail injection for post operative analgesia in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Background: Early postoperative pain management is pivotal in patients undergoing Total knee arthroplasty. The advantage of Local infiltration analgesia is its ability to provide control of pain without interfering with motor strength of the lower extremity, thereby allowing early mobilization of patients. This study compares the effectiveness of local analgesic cocktail injection given through subperiosteal vs. periarticular routes. Methods: The study included 30 patients admitted for primary total knee arthroplasty. They were grouped into two groups based on different injection sites. Group A included patients who received subperiosteal injection and Group B included patients who received periarticular injection, under spinal anaesthesia. The difference in pain among the two groups, using VAS at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hrs postoperatively, postoperative range of movements, and Functional outcome using IKDC score at the end of 6 months were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results: The mean VAS scores at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hrs were 0.87±0.35, 1.47±0.52, 1.80±0.41, 1.07±0.46 in subperiosteal group and 2.00±0.53, 2.47±0.52, 2.80±0.56, 1.93±0.59 in periarticular group. The 6 months postoperative IKDC scores were 51.34±0.41 and 51.04±0.61 respectively. Conclusions: Subperiosteal cocktail injection can significantly reduce the postoperative pain and result in early recovery of range of movements, compared with periarticular cocktail injection in patients undergoing Total knee arthroplasty. But the long-term functional outcomes were comparable among both the groups.

Investigating the impact of cartilaginous endplate herniation on recovery from percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the influence of herniation of cartilaginous endplates on postoperative pain and functional recovery in patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for lumbar disc herniation (LDH).MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 126 patients with LDH treated with PELD at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2021 to January 2022. Whether cartilaginous endplates had herniated was identified by analyzing these specific findings from MRI scans: posterior marginal nodes, posterior osteophytes, mid endplate irregularities, heterogeneous low signal intensity of extruded material, and Modic changes in posterior corners and mid endplates. Patients were assessed for postoperative pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and functional recovery using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Modified MacNab criteria. Statistical analyses compared outcomes based on the presence of herniation of cartilaginous endplates.ResultsPatients with herniation of cartilaginous endplates experienced higher pain scores early postoperatively but showed significant improvement in pain and functional status over the long term. The back pain VAS scores showed significant differences between the groups with and without herniation of cartilaginous endplates on postoperative day 1 and 1 month (P < 0.05). Leg pain VAS scores showed significant differences on postoperative day 1 (P < 0.05). Modic changes were significantly associated with variations in postoperative recovery, highlighting their importance in predicting patient outcomes. In patients with herniation of cartilaginous endplates, there were statistically significant differences in the back pain VAS scores at 1 month postoperatively and the ODI functional scores on postoperative day 1 between the groups with and without Modic changes (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the surgical outcomes between patients with and without these conditions regarding the Modified MacNab criteria (P > 0.05).ConclusionHerniation of cartilaginous endplates significantly affect early postoperative pain and functional recovery in LDH patients undergoing PELD. These findings emphasize the need for clinical consideration of these imaging features in the preoperative planning and postoperative management to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Efficacy of allogeneic tendon material coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction combined with Kirschner wire and titanium alloy hook plate material fixation in the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

To compare the effects of allogeneic tendon coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction combined with Kirschner wire fixation and clavicular hook plate fixation on early postoperative pain, postoperative shoulder joint function score and shoulder joint mobility in patients with acromioclavicular joint dislocation. From January 2020 to January 2023, 43 patients with acromioclavicular joint dislocation admitted to Xi 'an Honghui Hospital were included. Among them, 24 patients were treated with the clavicular hook plate technique (Hook Plate,HP) group, and 19 patients were treated with allogeneic tendon coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction combined with the Kirschner wire technique (Allogeneic Tendon, AT) group. The Constant-Murley score of shoulder joint function 6months after operation, postoperative shoulder joint activity, preoperative and postoperative pain, operation time, intraoperative blood loss and complications were compared between the two groups. All 43 patients were followed up for an average of 9.7 (9-12) months. The intraoperative blood loss in the allogeneic tendon group was less than in the hook plate group. The Constant-Murley shoulder function score was higher than that in the hook plate group 6 months after the operation. The abduction and lifting activity was greater than that in the hook plate group. The visual analogue scale scores at 3days and 14 days after operation were lower than those in the hook plate group. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was 1 case (5.3%) of exudation around the Kirschner needle track in the allogeneic tendon reconstruction group, and 5 cases (20.8%) of complications in the hook plate group, including 1 case of internal fixation stimulation, 2 cases of acromion impingement syndrome, 1 case of acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and 1 case of shoulder joint stiffness. The complication rate of the allogeneic tendon group was lower than that of the hook plate group. The clinical efficacy of allogeneic tendon coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction combined with Kirschner wire fixation in treating acromioclavicular joint dislocation (Rockwood type III-V) is better than hook plate internal fixation. The patients have less early postoperative pain and better recovery of shoulder joint function and shoulder joint mobility.

Non-Opioid Analgesics and Adjuvants after Surgery in Adults with Obesity: Systematic Review with Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background/Objectives: Managing postoperative pain in patients with obesity is challenging. Although using a combination of pain relief methods is recommended for these patients, the true effectiveness of various intravenous non-opioid analgesics and adjuvants in multimodal anesthesia needs to be better defined. Methods: A systematic review and network meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, ketamine, α-2 agonists, lidocaine, magnesium, and oral gabapentinoids in adult surgical patients with obesity. The analysis aimed to compare these treatments to a placebo/no treatment or alternative analgesics, with a primary focus on postoperative pain and secondary endpoints including rescue analgesia, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and recovery quality. English-language randomized controlled trials across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and EMBASE were considered. Quality and evidence certainty were assessed with the RoB 2 tool and GRADE, and data was analyzed with R software. Results: NSAIDs, along with acetaminophen, lidocaine, α-2 agonists, ketamine, and oral gabapentinoids, effectively reduce early postoperative pain. NSAIDs, particularly ibuprofen, as well as acetaminophen, ketamine, and lidocaine, also show benefits in later postoperative stages. Intravenous non-opioid analgesics and adjuvants show some degree of benefit in reducing PONV and the need for rescue analgesic therapy when using α-2 agonists alone or combined with oral gabapentinoids, notably decreasing the likelihood of PONV. Ketamine, lidocaine, and α-2 agonists are shown to enhance postoperative recovery and care quality. Conclusions: Intravenous non-opioid analgesics and adjuvants are valuable in multimodal anesthesia for pain management in adult surgical patients suffering from obesity.

Quadratus lumborum block in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: A single center study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of QL block in patients undergoing laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair. Study Design: Randomized Clinical Trial. Setting: Kalsoom International Hospital, Islamabad. Period: Dec 2022 to June 2023. Methods: In this, all patients between the ages of 18 and 70 who were scheduled for laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair to repair a one-sided inguinal hernia and did not have any complications related to the hernia. In one group, the patients received general anesthesia and in the other group, the patients were given sedation along with a technique called QL block. Age, gender, pain score on VAS at 1 hours, 6 hour and 12 hours after procedure was noted. Comparison of pain according to the VAS by type of anesthesia was done between the two groups and independent sample t-test was applied to see the statistical significant. Results: The patients' mean age was 43 + 9.09 years. Around 70% of the patients were males, while 30% were females, indicating a male predominance. The study's outcome was the mean pain score after 1 hour, 6 hours, and 12 hours. The two techniques of anesthesia utilized in the two groups were compared in terms of pain. The mean VAS at 1 hour after the initiation of anesthesia was not significantly different between the two groups, but it was statistically significant at 6 and 12 hours (p value of 0.001). Conclusion: QL block is a safe and effective alternative for patients undergoing TEP inguinal repair because to the observed reduction in early postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, and cheaper anesthetic and hospital costs. Although our research showed that pain was significantly reduced for up to 12 hours after the operation, more information is needed before we can confidently endorse it for widespread use.

Periarticular cocktail injection is more useful than nerve blocks for pain management after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

BackgroundAnterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is commonly associated with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. Notably, various pain control strategies, a femoral nerve block (FNB) with a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block (LFCNB), adductor canal block (ACB) with LFCNB, or periarticular cocktail injection (PI), have been investigated. However, no studies compare the effects of FNB with LFCNB, ACB with LFCNB, and PI for pain control after ACL reconstruction. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of FNB with LFCNB, ACB with LFCNB, and PI for pain relief in the early postoperative period after ACL reconstruction. MethodsThis retrospective controlled clinical trial enrolled 299 patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction at our hospital between April 2016 and October 2022. We categorized these cases into groups based on the use of PI (PI group), FNB with LFCNB (FNB group), and ACB with LFCNB (ACB group) for pain management. We selected 40 cases each, with matched age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) from each group, resulting in 120 cases for analysis. In the FNB and ACB groups, 0.75% ropivacaine 15 ml was injected under ultrasound guidance preoperatively. In the PI group, a mixture of 0.75% ropivacaine 20 ml, normal saline 20 ml, and dexamethasone 6.6 mg was injected half at the start of surgery and the rest just before wound closure. Patient demographics (age, sex, height, body weight, and BMI) and surgical data (the requirement for meniscal repair, operative time, and tourniquet inflation time) were analyzed. After ACL reconstruction, patients' numerical rating scale pain scores (NRS) (0-10) were recorded at 30 min and 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. NRS were then compared among the three groups using analysis of variance. In addition, within each group, these data were compared between the NRS ≥7 and NRS ≤6 groups using a t-test. ResultsThere were no significant differences in patient demographics and surgical data. Pain scores were significantly higher in the PI group than in the FCB and ACB groups 30 min postoperatively, but they were lower at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. In the FNB group, there were no significant differences in the demographic and surgical data by NRS pain score. In the ACB group, the number of men was significantly higher in the NRS ≥7 group than in the NRS ≤6 group (p = 0.015). In the PI group, tourniquet inflation time was significantly longer in the NRS ≥7 group than in the NRS ≤6 group (p = 0.008). ConclusionsFollowing ACL reconstruction using a hamstring autograft, periarticular cocktail significantly reduced early postoperative pain compared with nerve block combinations.

Dexmedetomidine addition to local anesthetic mixture for peribulbar anesthesia in strabismus surgery

Aim To evaluate the effect of the addition of dexmedetomidine to the local anesthetic mixture for peribulbar anesthesia in strabismus surgeries. Methods A randomized controlled study included 58 patients who were divided into two groups, group І: included 29 patients who received peribulbar block by a mixture of local anesthetics only, and group II: included 29 patients who received peribulbar block by a mixture of local anesthetics with dexmedetomidine. All cases underwent preoperative full ophthalmic examination. The onset and duration of sensory block, onset and duration of motor block, hemodynamic parameters, sedation level, and duration of analgesia were assessed. Results The onset of sensory and motor block was shortened (P =0.021 and &lt;0.001, respectively) and their duration was prolonged (P &lt;0.001) and the duration of postoperative analgesia was significantly longer in the dexmedetomidine group (P &lt;0.001). Dexmedetomidine group achieved higher sedation scores and lower intra and early postoperative pain scores (P 0.001 and &lt;0.001, respectively) with higher levels of patient and surgeon satisfaction. Conclusion The addition of dexmedetomidine with the local anesthetic mixture for peribulbar anesthesia in strabismus surgeries accelerates the onset of anesthesia and akinesia of the globe and prolongs their duration. It extends the time to the first analgesic request and enhances the satisfaction of both patients and surgeons.

Addition of Ketorolac to Local Anesthesia for Wound Infiltration in Multilevel Posterior Lumbar Spinal Fusion: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-controlled Trial.

Randomized double-blind controlled trial. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of pain control and opioid consumption after administration of ketorolac directly to paraspinal muscle after spinal fusion. Ketorolac is added to multimodal analgesia regimens to improve pain control, reduce opioid consumption following Orthopaedics and spine surgery. However, evidence of efficacy of adding ketorolac to local anesthesia for intrawound infiltration after spine surgery is still limited. The patients who underwent multilevel lumbar decompression and posterolateral fusion were recruited and randomized to the control group which received 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride injected into paraspinal muscles before wound closure, and the ketorolac group which received 30mg ketorolac in addition to 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride. Post-operative numerical rating scale (NRS) for back pain, leg pain, morphine consumption, and adverse events were recorded. A total of 47 patients were randomized (24 in the ketorolac group and 23 in the control group). The mean age was 60.9±6.9 years old. The mean NRS for back pain at 6 hours after surgery was 5.8±3.0 points for the control group and 3.3±2.1 points for the ketorolac group (P<0.01). The ketorolac group consumed lesser morphine than the control group by 9.1mg in the first 24 hours, 13.8mg at 48 hours, 14.3mg at 72 hours, and 13.9mg at 96 hours after the surgery (P<0.05). Post-operative complications were not different between the two groups. The addition of ketorolac to bupivacaine for wound infiltration after posterior lumbar spine decompression and fusion reduces early post-operative pain and total morphine consumption as compared to bupivacaine alone.

Comparing immediate postoperative outcomes of different VATS approaches for anatomical lung resection: a single-centre retrospective study.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) can be performed through 1 or more intercostal or subxiphoid ports. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether number and location of ports had an impact on early perioperative outcomes and postoperative pain after anatomical lung resection (ALR). A search of the departmental electronic database identified all patients who underwent VATS ALR between June 2018 and June 2019. We stratified patients according to the surgical approach: 2-port VATS, 3-port VATS, and subxiphoid VATS. We extracted demographic and clinicopathologic data. We used univariate analysis with unpaired t tests and χ2 tests to compare these variables between the subgroups. We included 201 patients in the analysis. When patients were stratified by surgical approach, there was no difference in terms of age, disease load, length of surgery, postoperative complications, duration of pleural drainage, and length of hospital stay. Postoperative pain and morphine equivalent usage were also comparable between the groups. According to these results, number and location of VATS ports seemingly has no clinical impact on early postoperative outcomes. Limitations of the study include its retrospective nature, small sample size, and short follow-up interval. Our results suggest that incision location and the number of VATS ports is not associated with differences in the incidence of perioperative complications or postoperative pain. Given the limitations described above, further studies with longer follow-up intervals are required to explore the lasting impact of this surgical approach on quality of life.

Assessment of ultrasound guided erector spinae plane block for early post-operative analgesia for modified radical mastectomy: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Erector spinae plane block is a recently introduced block with a wide range of indications. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block on early post-operative pain relief in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy. We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled study in a tertiary care institute. Sixty-five patients were enrolled. Final analysis was performed on 58 patients randomized into two groups. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block with 25 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine was given using a 18 gauge needle. No block was given in the other group. All patients received general anesthesia. Primary outcome measure was 24-hour analgesic consumption. Secondary outcome measures included intra-operative fentanyl consumption, time to first analgesic request, Visual Analog Scale score, nausea score, sedation score, wound quality and patient satisfaction score. Post-operative additional analgesics and intra-operative fentanyl were significantly reduced in patients receiving erector spinae plane block. Time to rescue analgesia was significantly delayed. Visual Analog Scale score was significantly lower at all time intervals. Post-operative nausea at various time intervals was also less. Patient satisfaction score was also noted on a 5-point scale and there was a statistical significant difference. We concluded that erector spinae plane block is a safe technique and provides good analgesia in breast surgery.