Incidence Of Chronic Postoperative Pain Research Articles

Comparison of postoperative chronic inguinal pain between the lichtenstein and laparoscopic techniques in the treatment of inguinal hernia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Currently, inguinal hernias are highly prevalent in the Brazilian population, accounting for 75% of all abdominal wall hernias. The recommended treatment to correct them is inguinal herniorrhaphy, which can be performed through open surgery, mainly using the Lichtenstein technique, or laparoscopically, primarily through Transabdominal Preperitoneal Repair (TAPP) or Total Extraperitoneal Repair (TEP) approaches. Like any surgery, these procedures have post-operative complications, with pain being the most common and debilitating. Currently, in European and Brazilian guidelines, the open Lichtenstein and endoscopic inguinal hernia techniques are recommended as best evidence-based options for repair of a primary unilateral hernia providing the surgeon is sufficiently experienced in the specific procedure. In that matter, the surgeon should make a choice based on assessment of the benefits and risks of performing each of them, and practice shared making decision with it patient. Therefore, the objective of this review was to assess the incidence of chronic postoperative pain by comparing the aforementioned surgical approaches to evaluate which procedure causes less disability to the patient. The search conducted untilMay 2024 was performed on Medline (PubMed), Cochrane (CENTRAL), and Lilacs databases. The selection was limited to randomized clinical trials, nonrandomized clinical trials and cohort studies comparing TAPP or TEP to LC, evaluating the incidence of chronic postoperative pain published between 2017 and 2023. Evidence certainty was assessed using the GRADE Pro tool, and bias risk was evaluated with the RoB 2.0 tooland ROBINS I tool. Thirteen studies were included. RESULTS: The meta-analysis showed a significant difference between the groups in both techniques, favoring the laparoscopic approach, which had a lower occurrence of postoperative inguinodynia with a relative risk of 0.49 (95% CI = 0.32, 0.75; I2 = 66% (P = 0.001); Z = 3.28 (P = 0.001) with low certainty of evidence. The presence of chronic postoperative pain was lower in laparoscopic TEP/TAPP techniques when compared to the open Lichtenstein technique, meaning that the former can bring more benefits to patients who requires inguinal herniorrhaphy. Nevertheless, further randomized clinical trials are needed to optimize the analysis, minimizing the bias.

CAUSES OF CHRONIC PAIN UNRELATED TO SURGICAL TRAUMA AFTER GROIN HERNIA REPAIR: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Abstract Background Chronic inguinal pain (CIP) can be caused by several factors including musculoskeletal or neurological pathologies as well as by surgical trauma following groin hernia repair. The principal aim of this prospective cohort observational study was to find the incidence and causes of CIP unrelated to surgical trauma 12 months after inguinal hernia repair. Method During sixteen months patients consulting a hernia center for groin-related symptoms were included in the study. Patients were physically evaluated by surgeons and filled out an Inguinal Pain Questionnaire and a Numerical Rating Scale pain-questionnaire. For patients undergoing groin hernia repair, postoperative questionnaires similar to the pre-operative ones were sent out at 12 months. Patients scoring pain on postoperative questionnaires were reevaluated by phone consultation and physical examination. Results 289 patients (78.1%) of 370 repaired patients filled in the postoperative questionnaires. 62 (21.4%) patients scored pain, of these patients 5 (1.7%, 5/289) answered incorrectly in the pain questionnaires and 14 (4.8%, 14/289) had non-surgical trauma causes of pain: 5 musculoskeletal, 4 neurological and 3 other medical pathologies. Conclusion This cohort study found CIP unrelated to surgical trauma in 4.8 % of patients undergoing a groin hernia repair. Most causes of pain unrelated to surgical trauma were musculoskeletal and neurological pathologies. Nearly a third of patients scoring groin pain on pain-questionnaires did not have chronic post-operative pain (CPSP), therefore incidence of CPSP should not be based solely on pain questionnaires. Clinical assessment of patients with pain is necessary to excluded CIP unrelated to surgical trauma.

Application of bridging mesh repair in giant ventral incisional hernia.

Achieving ideal abdominal wall reconstruction in giant ventral incisional hernia has been a challenging for surgeons. This study aimed to verify the safety and efficacy of bridging repair by comparing it with primary fascial closure (PFC) repair in the treatment of giant ventral incisional hernia. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 92 patients with giant ventral incisional hernia who underwent mesh repair at our medical institution from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the bridging repair group with 40 patients in whom repair was completed using the bridging technique and the PFC group with 52 patients in whom primary fascial closure was achieved and all patients underwent mesh reinforcement during the operation. The main outcome measures were recurrence rate and morbidity, especially intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). Follow-up time of both groups lasted at least 24months after surgery. After a median of 46months and 65months of follow-up, respectively, in the two groups, bridging repair did not increase the long-term recurrence rate (2.56%) in the larger defect area group compared to the PFC group (1.96%). There were no significant differences in perioperative morbidity, IAH, incidence of postoperative chronic pain, and sensory impairment of the abdominal wall between both groups. The application of bridging surgery in the treatment of complex giant ventral incisional hernias is safe and effective and does not significantly increase the postoperative recurrence rate.

The impact of paravertebral nerve blockade on postoperative surgical site wound pain management in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary carcinoma resection.

Management of postoperative pain is of vital importance for patients undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) for Pulmonary Carcinoma Resection. The study evaluates the impact of Paravertebral Nerve Blockade (PNB) in conjunction with general anaesthesia on postoperative pain relief, as compared with general anaesthesia alone. A retrospective analysis was carried out from May 2020 to May 2023, involving 100 patients with pathologically confirmed pulmonary carcinoma. The patients were divided into two groups: a control group that received general anaesthesia and an observation group that received a combination of general anaesthesia and PNB. The intensity of postoperative pain was assessed at various time intervals using the visual analogue scale (VAS), while the effectiveness of patient-controlled analgesia was also evaluated. Additionally, the study examined the incidence rates of chronic pain in the postoperative period. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 27.0. Significant reductions in VAS scores for both resting and cough-induced pain were observed in the observation group at 2 and 6 h post-operation (p < 0.01). However, the difference diminished over time. The observation group had fewer patient-controlled analgesia activations and required lower dosages of hydromorphone at both 24- and 48-h post-operation. The incidence of chronic pain was also significantly lower in the observation group (24.00%) compared with the control group (54.00%) (p < 0.01). PNB, when administered in combination with general anaesthesia, significantly reduces immediate postoperative pain and the requirement for additional analgesics in patients undergoing VATS for pulmonary carcinoma resection. The effect diminishes over time but has a lasting impact on reducing the incidence of chronic postoperative pain.

Selective COX-2 Inhibitor Is Beneficial in Suppressing Chronic Postsurgical Pain in Esophageal Cancer Patients and May Prolong Patient Survival

Introduction: Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a common complication after surgical procedures. Radical resection of esophageal cancer is a complex procedure, one of the most extensive and traumatic surgical procedures in oncological surgery, and the incidence of postoperative chronic pain is high, seriously affecting patients’ postoperative recovery. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the incidence of CPSP in patients with esophageal cancer and to analyze the risk factors associated with its occurrence in order to provide certain prevention and treatment ideas for clinical prevention and reduction of CPSP. Methods: Patients with radical esophageal cancer resection were selected as the study subjects, and the clinical data regarding to patients’ preoperative comorbidities, ASA grading, surgical method, use of selective COX-2 inhibitors, postoperative analgesic pump use, and patients’ postoperative tumor recurrence time were collected. The differences in clinical data between the CPSP group and no-CPSP group were compared to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence of CPSP. Results: A total of 262 patients were included; 57 (21.76%) developed CPSP, and there were statistical differences between the two groups in terms of selective COX-2 inhibitor and postoperative analgesic pump use rates and surgical modality (p < 0.05), and logistic regression analysis showed that age and length of surgery increased the risk of CPSP, perioperative selective COX-2 inhibitor use decreased the risk of CPSP occurrence (p < 0.05), the extent of tumor infiltration and regional lymph node metastasis were risk factors for shortening tumor-free survival (TFS), and age and use of selective COX-2 inhibitor were influential factors for prolonging TFS (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with esophageal cancer have a high incidence of postoperative chronic pain, with youth and length of surgery being risk factors for CPSP, and perioperative pain management with selective COX-2 inhibitors can reduce the incidence of CPSP and is associated with prolonged TFS.

Ten steps for proper peripheral nerve handling during inguinal hernia surgery.

Post-inguinal pain after a hernia surgery is prevalent and can be quite frustrating for the surgeon and patient alike. There are several sources for possible post-operative inguinal pain after a successful hernia repair; however, in the setting where a recurrent inguinal hernia is not present, it is likely related to the nerves in the inguinal canal or pelvis. Chronic inguinal groin pain after hernia repairs have been reported in a high percentage of patients following inguinal hernia surgery despite being one of the most common procedures performed annually in the USA and worldwide. We present ten of the basic concepts utilized by peripheral nerve surgeons to limit nerve injury, which can easily be applied to open inguinal hernia surgery with or without mesh, starting with the firm understanding of the inguinal anatomy to addressing the nerves, meticulous placement of the mesh and the active revision of the surrounding structures and nerve position before closure. Understanding the proper handling of the inguinal nerves during hernia surgery can decrease the incidence of post-operative chronic pain by employing microsurgical concepts to day-to-day surgical procedures and prevent complications in an extensive set of patients.

Sex and age differences in chronic postoperative pain among patients undergoing thoracic surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

The effect of sex and age on chronic post-thoracic surgical pain (CPTP) at rest and with activity remains unclear. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the incidence of chronic postoperative pain (at rest and with activity) and sex/age differences. This was a single-center retrospective study that included adult patients who had undergone elective thoracic surgery. Patients were divided into two groups based on sex. Demographic and perioperative data were collected, including age, sex, education level, Body Mass Index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, and medical history (hypertension, diabetes mellitus). Chronic postoperative pain data were collected by telephone follow-up. Among the 3,159 patients enrolled, 1,762 were male, and 1,397 were female. After creating a matched-pairs cohort, 1,856 patients were analyzed. The incidence of CPTP at rest was 14.9% among males and 17.8% among females (p = 0.090). The incidence of CPTP with activity was 28.4% among males and 35.0% among females (p = 0.002). We analyzed three different models after propensity matching to validate the stability of the prediction model between sex and CPTP, and female sex was a significant predictor of CPTP with activity 3 months after surgery. Further analysis showed that females in the 45-55-year-old age group were more prone to develop CPTP. Females have a higher incidence of chronic postoperative pain with activity after thoracic surgery. Females in the 45-55-year-old age group are more prone to develop CPTP than females in other age groups.

Postoperative Chronic Pain Syndrome and Risk Factors in Patients with Breast Surgery.

To investigate the incidence of chronic postoperative pain after different types of breast surgery, and investigate the risk factors associated with chronic postoperative pain. Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Ibnisina Hospital, from January to May 2021. Postoperative chronic pain syndrome and risk factors were investigated in 200 female patients who underwent breast surgery for different reasons. The relationships between preoperative chronic pain, analgesic drug use, number of previous surgeries, anxiety, depression levels, lifestyle, age, height, body mass index, education level, postoperative acute pain, and postoperative sixth-month pain level were statistically analysed. Chronic postoperative pain was observed at a rate of 30%. Postmastectomy syndrome was observed with a rate of 31.6%. A statistically significant relationship was found between preoperative chronic pain, smoking, analgesic use, and postoperative chronic pain (p<0.001). Total mastectomy, mastectomy and simultaneous reconstructive surgery, axillary surgery were associated with chronic pain (p<0.001). A strong correlation was observed between preoperative anxiety (r=0.758, p<0.001), depression (r=0.773, p<0.001), and chronic pain. Chronic postoperative pain and postmastectomy pain syndrome are found in almost one-third of the operated patients mainly related to preoperative smoking, analgesic use, breast cancer, and psychological state. Chronic pain, Breast neoplasms, Mastectomy, Anxiety, Depression.

Effects of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block on postoperative acute pain and chronic post-surgical pain in patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: a prospective randomized, controlled trial

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) on acute and chronic post-surgical pain in patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy.MethodsA total of 94 patients, who underwent elective unilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic lobotomy from August 2021 to December 2021 were randomly divided into general anesthesia group (group A, n = 46) and ESPB combined with general anesthesia group (group B, n = 48) by computer. Patient controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA) was performed in both groups after operation. The numerical rating scale(NRS) of rest and cough pain at post anesthesia care unit(PACU), 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 and 48 h after operation, frequency of PCIA in 24 h after operation, frequency of rescue analgesia, patient satisfaction, adverse reactions and complications were recorded in the two groups. Incidence of chronic pain at 3 months and 6 months after operation, the effect of daily life and rating of chronic pain management measures were recorded in the two groups.ResultsCompared with group A, rest and cough NRS score at 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 and 48 h after surgery, frequency of PCIA use at 24 h after surgery, frequency of rescue analgesia were significantly decreased in group B (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in NRS scores of rest and cough at PACU after operation between 2 groups after surgery at post anesthesia care unit (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative chronic pain between the 2 groups(P > 0.05);The effect of postoperative chronic pain on daily life and pain management measures in group B were significantly lower than those in group A(P < 0.05). Compared with group A, patients in group B had higher satisfaction degree, lower incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV), and lower incidence of agitation during anesthesia recovery (P < 0.05). There were no pneumothorax, hematoma and toxicity of local anesthetic in the 2 groups.ConclusionUltrasound-guided erector spinae plane block can significantly reduce acute post-surgical pain, can not reduce the incidence of chronic post-surgical pain, but can significantly reduce the severity of chronic pain in patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy.Trial registrationChiCTR2100050313,date of registration:26/08/2021

New Perspectives in Peripheral Nerve Surgery for Neuropathic Pain

Background and Aims: Neuropathic pain can occur following intentional or unintentional peripheral nerve injury. The purpose of this review was to determine in patients who have post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain or required ablative mandibular operations with transection of the nerve, do those who undergo immediate or early surgical interventions, when compared to those whose nerves are not repaired or delayed, have a decreased or increased risk for resolving neuropathic pain? Methods: Two single-site and one multi-site retrospective observatory studies of patients who had neuropathic pain prior to operative treatment of the injured nerve and in patients who underwent resection of the mandible for benign or malignant disease with either no repair or immediate repair were analyzed for the presence or absence of neuropathic pain at 6 months post-surgery. The primary predictor variable in the surgical treatment of neuropathic pain pre-existing surgery was the time from injury to repair and the preoperative pain intensity rated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The primary predictor variable in the study of intentional transected nerve was the immediate repair or no repair of the nerve at the time of resection. Results: There was statistically significant difference in the primary outcome based on time from injury to repair. When the time to surgery was less than 200 days, the percentage of patients with no neuropathic pain was greater than 60%. There was a significant difference in mean VAS between those who had no neuropathic pain (6.4,SD 2.68) and those with recurrence (7.75,SD 1.95). Following mandibular resection there was statistically significant difference between the immediate repair and no repair group. Post-hoc logistic regression modeling showed an inverse relationship between the immediate repair and the incidence of chronic postoperative pain and neuropathic pain with an odd ratio &lt;1. Conclusions: In patients with neuropathic pain, earlier diagnosis and treatment, including peripheral nerve surgery, should be considered with the best outcomes when operative interventions occur within 200 days of the injury and pain intensity are mild or moderate on VAS scales. The immediate repair of an intentionally transected trigeminal nerve appears to reduce and possibly eliminate the development of neuropathic and chronic postoperative pain compared to avoiding nerve repair.

A Comparison of the Differences in Postoperative Chronic Pain Between Video-Assisted and Robotic-Assisted Approaches in Thoracic Surgery.

Background and objective In the last decade, there has been significant evolution in thoracic surgery with the advent of robotic surgery. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the incidence ofpostoperativechronic pain (for six months and beyond) in robotic and video-assisted approaches to analyze the long-term effects of the two different techniques. Methods This was a retrospective study involving 92 patients who underwent various thoracic operations betweensix months and two years preceding the study. Patients were classified into two groups based on the type of surgery: video-assisted (VATS) (n=51), and robotic-assisted (RATS) (n=41) thoracoscopic Surgery. We employed the EuroQol (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire to assess the utility values in terms of five quality-of-life measures (self-care,pain/discomfort, mobility,anxiety/depression, and usual activities). Results In the VATS group, the median age was 68 years while it was 57 years in the RATS group(p=0.001). A higher proportion of patients in the VATSgroup had anatomical lung resection (lobectomy) compared to the RATS group: 61.2 vs. 41.6% respectively (p=0.005). However, the groups were well-matched on other patient characteristics such as relevant past medical history, underlying disease pathology, and final disease staging (if malignant), with no significant differences between groups observed regarding these traits. In the VATS group, 62.7% of patients were pain-free at the time of the questionnaire-based evaluation compared to 51.2% in the RATS group. Additionally, 25.5% vs. 39% of patients had mild pain in the VATS and RATS groupsrespectively. Neither of these differences was statistically significant. Conclusion Patients who undergo RATS are known to have better recovery and less pain compared to those who have VATS in the immediate postoperative period. However, our results did not find RATS to be superior toVATS in terms of long-term pain. Additionally, robotic surgery is associated with higher hospital costs. In light of these findings, further comparative studies between the two approaches are recommended, while strategies to reduce postoperative pain and financial cost should continue to be explored.

Novel modification of Marcy operation for indirect inguinal hernia reconstituting deep inguinal ring shutter action.

The two most frequent and significant complications after inguinal hernia repair are hernia recurrence and post-herniorrhaphy chronic pain. To add anatomic and physiologic strength to the tissue repair, especially in indirect inguinal herniorrhaphy, we devised a modification of Marcy operation that can reconstitute inguinal shutter action more efficiently by changing the direction of the sutures vertical to horizontal. During 36months from 1st Jan. 2019, 148cases of 140 patients were operated for Indirect inguinal hernia or Pantaloon hernia (11 cases). 145 indirect inguinal herniorrhaphy were performed exclusively with author's modification of Marcy operation. Hernia recurrence during the follow-up period (3months-36months), and postoperative chronic pain at 3months after herniorrhaphy were analyzed. 104 cases among the 145 indirect inguinal hernia (71.7%) were operated with only deep inguinal ring (DIR) reconstruction as author modified. In 41 cases (28.3%), posterior wall reconstruction was done simultaneously. There was no recurrence or reoperation case during the follow-up period. The incidence of postoperative chronic pain at postoperative 3months of VAS greater than 3.0 was 2.2% (3 cases). Author's modification of Marcy operation was feasible anatomically in all indirect inguinal hernia repair, which is theoretically superior to classic Marcy operation in that repositioning the DIR more laterally and securing the obliquity and shutter action of the DIR. Result is at least not inferior in the aspect of short-term recurrence and chronic post-herniorrhaphy pain.

Effect of lidocaine perioperative infusion on chronic postsurgical pain in patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical pneumonectomy

BackgroundThoracoscopic radical pneumonectomy is associated with a high incidence of postoperative chronic pain. Studies on the benefits of lidocaine intravenous infusion during the perioperative period were still controversial in thoracoscopic surgery.MethodsSixty-four lung cancer patients scheduled for thoracoscopic radical pneumonectomy were randomly divided into two groups: normal saline group (control group) or lidocaine group. In the lidocaine group, 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine was administered during the anesthesia induction, and 2 mg·kg−1·h−1 lidocaine was continuously intravenous infused until the end of the surgery. After the surgery, a mixture of 2 μg/kg sufentanil and 10 mg/kg lidocaine was continuously intravenous infused by postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia pump (100 ml). In the control group, the same volume of normal saline was administered according to the calculation of lidocaine during anesthesia induction, maintenance and postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia. The primary outcome was the incidence of chronic postoperative pain at 3 months after the surgery. The secondary outcomes include the incidence of chronic postoperative pain at 6 months after the surgery; the effect of lidocaine on postoperative pain within the first 24 and 48 h; total amount of sufentanil administered during entire procedure and the number of PCA triggers within 48 h after surgery.ResultsCompared with the control group, the incidence of chronic pain at 3 months after the surgery was significantly lower (13 cases, 46.4% vs. 6 cases, 20.7%, p < 0.05), but no significant difference at 6 months between two group. The cumulative dosage of sufentanil in perioperative period was significantly lower (149.64 ± 18.20 μg vs. 139.47 ± 16.75 μg) (p < 0.05), and the number of PCA triggers (8.21 ± 4.37 vs. 5.83 ± 4.12, p < 0.05) was significantly greater in the control group. The NRS pain scores at 24 h (1.68 ± 0.72 vs. 1.90 ± 0.86) and 48 h (1.21 ± 0.42 vs. 1.20 ± 0.41) after the operation were no significant difference.ConclusionPerioperative infusion lidocaine significantly reduced the number of PCA triggers and the incidence of chronic postoperative pain at 3 months after the thoracoscopic radical pneumonectomy.Trial registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR1900024759, frist registration date 26/07/2019.

Ultrasonografi Eşliğinde Uygulanan Transversus Abdominis Plan Bloğunun İnguinal Herni Cerrahisi Sonrası Gelişen Kronik Ağrı Üzerine Etkisi: Retrospektif Kohort Çalışma

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to see how efficient ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block was on the incidence of chronic postoperative pain developing after inguinal hernia surgery. Methods: The records of patients who had unilateral elective grafted inguinal hernia surgery with the Lichtenstein procedure under general anesthesia between July 2018 and October 2019 were examined retrospectively. The patients were placed into two groups (total=70): those who did not receive intraoperative TAP block (Group 1, n=38) and those who received (Group 2, n=32). The patients were contacted by phone 6 months after the procedure, and it was learned and recorded whether they had chronic pain before the operation, the nature of the pain if any, whether it limited their daily activities or not. The Numerical Rating Scale was used to measure chronic pain, and values of 3 and above were considered chronic pain. Results: This study comprised a total of 70 participants, with 38 patients in Group 1 and 32 patients in Group 2. Patients with chronic pain incidence in the postoperative 6th month (n=21) accounted for 30% of all patients. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding chronic pain development [Group 1 (n=14, 36.8% ), Group 2 (n=7, 21.8%)]. It was observed that the patients’ pain was predominantly in the burning style. Conclusion: We concluded that the ultrasound-guided TAP block had no significant effect on the development of chronic pain. Keywords: Postoperative chronic pain, transversus abdominis plane block, inguinal herniorrhaphy

Effect of intravenous lidocaine on chronic postoperative pain in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BackgroundChronic postoperative pain (CPSP) is one of the common complications of breast cancer patients, which can seriously affect the quality of life and long-term prognosis of patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether perioperative intravenous lidocaine infusion could reduce the incidence of CPSP in patients with breast cancer.MethodsFemale patients undergoing radical breast cancer surgery were randomly assigned to the 2% lidocaine group (L) and the control group (S). group L received an intravenous infusion of 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine 10 minutes prior to induction, followed by a continuous infusion of 2 mg/kg/h until the end of surgery. The control group received an equal amount of saline. The primary outcome was the incidence of CPSP at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included VAS pain scores and frequency of remedial analgesia within 24 hours postoperatively; incidence of CPSP at 1 and 6 months; and scores on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Simplified McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and Neuropathic Pain Score (DN-4) at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.ResultsEighty-two patients participated in this study. A total of 78 patients completed the 3-month postoperative follow-up (39 in group S and 39 in group L). At 3 months, the incidence of CPSP was significantly lower in the L group than in the S group (33.3% in the S group and 12.8% in the L group, P=0.032). Pain scores at rest and during exercise were significantly lower in the L group than in the S group at different time points (P≤0.001 and P<0.001). The need for remedial analgesia at 24 hours postoperatively also differed significantly between the two groups (P=0.036). At 6 months, the incidence of CPSP was also lower in the L group than in the S group (29.7% in the S group and 10.5% in the L group, P=0.038). The differences in SF-MPQ scores were statistically significant at both 3 and 6 months postoperatively (P=0.022, P=0.037).ConclusionsIntravenous infusion of lidocaine reduces the incidence of CPSP in breast cancer patients at 3 and 6 months and is effective in relieving acute postoperative pain.Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100050445.

Ilioinguinal and Iliohypogastric Nerve Block for Acute and Chronic Pain Relief After Caesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundThere is an increasing cesarean section (CS) rate in Egypt. Multiple methods are used to manage pain after CS. ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the effect of ultrasound-guided bilateral ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block on pain reduction after CS.MethodsWe classified 64 cases of elective CS into two equal groups. The block group underwent the nerve block, and the control group did not. Postoperative pain, morphine consumption, time to analgesic request, and complications were compared between the two groups. ResultsNo significant difference was detected between the two groups regarding patient characteristics or operation duration. However, pain scores during rest and movement were significantly lower in the block group than in controls, especially within the first 12 hours following the operation. Morphine consumption was significantly lower in the block group (4.53 ± 1.456) in group B vs. (8.87 ± 2.013) in group C with P-value < 0.001. Time to the first rescue analgesia was significantly longer in the intervention group than in the other group (12.25 vs. 3.81 hours). Pruritis and nausea incidence was significantly higher in controls than in the block group. The incidence of chronic postoperative pain was significantly lower in the block group.ConclusionsThe ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block is efficient and safe for managing postoperative pain following CS. It is associated with significant improvement of acute and chronic pain after such operations.

COMPARISON STUDY OF EXCISION VERSUS INVAGINATION OF HERNIAL SAC IN MANAGEMENT OF INDIRECT INGUINAL HERNIA

INTRODUCTION:The new concept is that ligature of richly innervated and vascularized peritoneal sac is responsible for increased postoperative pain and other complications without any advantage in terms of recurrence rate. It is mainly due to the fact that ligation of richly innervated and well vascularised peritoneum produces a miniature peritonitis contributing to the post-operative discomfort and other complications. Aim of our study was to compare the difference in outcome of two different techniques of indirect inguinal hernia sac management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study included open Lichtenstein tension free inguinal hernioplasty patients, 20patients in each group (Groups I underwent invagination of hernial sac, Group II underwent excision and high ligation of hernia sac). The lower limit of age was 18 years. All patients who underwent open Lichtenstein tension free inguinal hernioplasty with indirect inguinal hernia and without any comorbidities were included in the study. Data was tabulated and analysed by using SPSS for windows 7 software. RESULTS: Most common presenting complaints were swelling with or without associated dragging pain. Both groups were comparable in age, BMI, occupation, side of hernia, length of incision, operative time and operative ndings. The mean operative time was 50 +_ 5minutes and 60 +_10 minutes in Group A and B respectively. There was no difference in mean VAS score at 6, 12, 24 hours and 7th day, but it was signicantly higher in Group B on 21st day. Insignicant difference in complications rate was seen between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The method of invagination of sac is better than the excision of sac with ligation or transxation in reducing the incidence of chronic postoperative pain and decreased operative time after open Lichtenstein repair of indirect incomplete hernia.

Perioperative Breast Analgesia: a Systematic Review of the Evidence for Perioperative Analgesic Medications

Breast surgery is common and may result in significant acute as well as chronic pain. A wide range of pharmacologic interventions is available including opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, anticonvulsants, and other non-opioids with analgesic properties. We present a review of the evidence for these pharmacologic interventions. A literature search of the MEDLINE database was performed via PubMed with combined terms related to breast surgery, anesthesia, and analgesia. Articles were limited to randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, adult patients undergoing elective surgery on the breast (not including biopsy), and pharmacologic interventions only. Article titles and abstracts were screened, and risk of bias assessments were performed. The search strategy initially captured 7254 articles of which 60 articles met the full inclusion criteria. Articles were organized according to intervention: 6 opioid agonists, 14 NSAIDs and acetaminophen, 4 alpha-2 agonists, 7 NMDA receptor antagonists, 6 local anesthetics, 7 steroids, 15 anticonvulsants (one of which also discussed an NMDA antagonist), 1 antiarrhythmic, and 2 serotonin reuptake inhibitors (one of which also studied an anticonvulsant). A wide variety of medications is effective for perioperative breast analgesia, but results vary by agent and dose. The most efficacious are likely NSAIDs and anticonvulsants. Some agents may also decrease the incidence of chronic postoperative pain, including flurbiprofen, gabapentin, venlafaxine, and memantine. While many individual agents are well studied, optimal combinations of analgesic medications remain unclear.

LAPAROSCOPIC INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR: THE LONG-TERM ASSESSMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

Laparoscopic approaches to inguinal hernia repair include transabdominal extraperitoneal and transabdominal preperitoneal, both of which are widely performed and employ mesh. Indicators of success for these surgical procedures include incidence of complications, time to return to daily activities, incidence of postoperative chronic pain, and the long-term postoperative patient satisfaction. This study aimed to evaluate and compare long-term postoperative incidence of chronic pain and overall quality of life among patients undergoing transabdominal extraperitoneal or transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Medical records were analyzed, and the SF-36 questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale were applied to assess quality of life and chronic pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair between January 2017 and February 2021. A total of 167 patients status post laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, who were 3 months postoperatively or longer, were included in the study. Among the early complications seen, seroma was most common in the transabdominal preperitoneal group (p=0.04). Subsequently, 40 of the initial 167 patients answered to the survey instrument (SF-36 and Visual Analog Scale). Mean patient-reported pain (Visual Analog Scale score) was statistically similar between groups, with 1.29 for transabdominal preperitoneal and 1.68 for transabdominal extraperitoneal (p=0.92). In the domains evaluated by the SF-36, there was no significant difference between the samples. Both transabdominal extraperitoneal and transabdominal preperitoneal techniques for hernia repair have similar results in the late postoperative period regarding quality of life and prevalence of chronic pain. They are also comparable in terms of major early postoperative complications, except for seroma, with a higher incidence in patients undergoing transabdominal preperitoneal.

The Role of Intravenous Lidocaine in Preventing Chronic Post-Operative Pain

Background and Goal of Study Chronic post-operative pain (CPOP) is an increasing public health issue considering its impact on the patients quality of life and and the associated costs for the healthcare system. The incidence of CPOP can be as high as 75%, depending on the surgical procedure and other factors. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antihyperalgesic properties. Several studies have shown its use in controlling acute post-operative pain when used intravenously. The goal of this study was to define the role of intravenous lidocaine in preventing CPOP. Materials and Methods The PubMed database was searched from 2006 and 2019 with the keywords: “Chronic post-operative pain” or “Chronic post-surgical pain” or “Chronic pain” and “Intravenous lidocaine”. Adequate papers for the purpose of this study were selected. Results and Discussion Three randomized controlled trials that met criteria were obtained: two on breast surgery and the other on open nephrectomy. All trials used intravenous lidocaine during surgery, suspending the infusion up to the first 24-hours of the post-operative period. All three of them showed a significant decrease on the incidence of CPOP. There was a 20-fold decrease six months after breast surgery. Conclusion Intravenous lidocaine seems to decrease the incidence of CPOP however, there is limited evidence. More trials are necessary to define the efficacy and safety of intravenous lidocaine. A generally accepted definition of CPOP is needed.