Postanesthesia Care Unit Length Research Articles

Erector Spinae Plane Block With Liposomal Bupivacaine: Analgesic Adjunct in Adult Pectus Surgery

IntroductionPain management may be challenging in patients undergoing pectus excavatum (PE) bar removal surgery. To enhance recovery, opioid sparing strategies with regional anesthesia including ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) have been implemented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bilateral ESPB with a liposomal bupivacaine/traditional bupivacaine mixture as part of an enhanced patient recovery pathway. Materials and methodsA retrospective review of adult patients who underwent PE bar removal from January 2019 to December 2020 was performed. Perioperative data were reviewed and recorded. Patients who received ESPB were compared to historical controls (non-ESPB patients). ResultsA total of 202 patients were included (non-ESPB: 124 patients; ESPB: 78 patients). No adverse events were attributed to ESPB. Non-ESPB patients received more intraoperative opioids (milligram morphine equivalents; 41.8 ± 17.0 mg versus 36.7 ± 17.1, P = 0.05) and were more likely to present to the emergency department within 7 d postoperatively (4.8% versus 0%, P = 0.05) when compared to ESPB patients. No significant difference in total perioperative milligram morphine equivalents, severe pain in postanesthesia care unit (PACU), time from PACU arrival to analgesic administration, PACU length of stay, or postprocedure admission rates between groups were observed. ConclusionsIn patients undergoing PE bar removal surgery, bilateral ESPB with liposomal bupivacaine was performed without complications. ESPB with liposomal bupivacaine may be considered as an analgesic adjunct to enhance recovery in patients undergoing cardiothoracic procedures but further prospective randomized clinical trials comparing liposomal bupivacaine to traditional local anesthetics with and without indwelling nerve catheters are necessary.

Risk of esketamine anesthesia on the emergence delirium in preschool children after minor surgery: a prospective observational clinical study.

Emergence delirium (ED) is a common mental complication during recovery from anesthesia. However, studies on the effects of esketamine, an intravenous anesthetic for pediatrics, on ED are still lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a single-dose of esketamine during anesthesia induction on ED after minor surgery in preschool children. A total of 230 children (aged 2-7years) completed the study. The exposed group (0.46mgkg-1: average dose of esketamine) was associated with an increased incidence of ED and a higher maximum Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium score than the non-exposed group. The length of post-anesthesia care unit stay was longer in the exposed group than the non-exposed group. In contrast, extubation time, face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability (FLACC) scores, and the proportions of rescue analgesics were comparable between the two groups. Furthermore, five factors, including preoperative anxiety scores, sevoflurane and propofol compared with sevoflurane alone for anesthesia maintenance, dezocine for postoperative analgesia, FLACC scores, and esketamine exposure, were associated with ED. In conclusion, a near-anesthetic single-dose of esketamine for anesthesia induction may increase the incidence of ED in preschool children after minor surgery. The use of esketamine in preschool children for minor surgery should be noticed during clinical practice.

Efficacy of regional anesthesia in hip preservation surgeries: a systematic review.

The purpose of this study was to review the current literature on perioperative pain management in hip arthroscopy, periacetabular osteotomy and surgical hip dislocation. A systematic review of the literature published from January 2000 to December 2022 was performed. Selection criteria included published randomized controlled trials, prospective reviews and retrospective reviews of all human subjects undergoing hip preservation surgery. Exclusion criteria included case reports, animal studies and studies not reporting perioperative pain control protocols. Thirty-four studies included hip arthroscopy in which peripheral nerve blocks were associated with a significant reduction in pain score (P = 0.037) compared with general anesthesia alone. However, no pain control modality was associated with a significant difference in postanesthesia care unit opioid use (P = 0.127) or length of stay (P = 0.251) compared with general anesthesia alone. Falls were the most common complication reported, accounting for 37% of all complications. Five studies included periacetabular osteotomy and surgical hip dislocation in which peripheral nerve blocks were associated with an 18% reduction in pain on postoperative Day 2, a 48% reduction in cumulative opioid use on postoperative Day 2 and a 40% reduction in hospital stay. Due to the low sample size of the periacetabular osteotomy and surgical hip dislocation studies, we were unable to determine the significant difference between the means. Due to significant between-study heterogeneity, additional studies with congruent outcome measures need to be conducted to determine the efficacy of regional anesthesia in hip arthroscopy, periacetabular osteotomy and surgical hip dislocation.

Perioperative Management and Outcomes in Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurocognitive disorder characterized by impairments in communication and socialization. There are little data comparing the differences in perioperative outcomes in children with and without ASD. We hypothesized that children with ASD would have higher postoperative pain scores than those without ASD. Pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, ophthalmological surgery, general surgery, and urologic procedures between 2016 and 2021 were included in this retrospective cohort study. ASD patients, defined by International Classification of Diseases-9/10 codes, were compared to controls utilizing inverse probability of treatment weighting based on surgical category/duration, age, sex, race and ethnicity, anesthetizing location, American Society of Anesthesiology physical status, intraoperative opioid dose, and intraoperative dexmedetomidine dose. The primary outcome was the maximum postanesthesia care unit (PACU) pain score, and secondary outcomes included premedication administration, behavior at induction, PACU opioid administration, postoperative vomiting, emergence delirium, and PACU length of stay. Three hundred thirty-five children with ASD and 11,551 non-ASD controls were included. Maximum PACU pain scores in the ASD group were not significantly higher than controls (median, 5; interquartile range [IQR], 0-8; ASD versus median, 5; IQR, 0-8 controls; median difference [95% confidence interval {CI}] of 0 [-1.1 to 1.1]; P = .66). There was no significant difference in the use of premedication (96% ASD versus 95% controls; odds ratio [OR], 1.5; [95% CI, 0.9-2.7]; P = .12), but the ASD cohort had significantly higher odds of receiving an intranasal premedication (4.2% ASD versus 1.2% controls; OR, 3.5 [95% CI, 1.8-6.8]; P < .001) and received ketamine significantly more frequently (0.3% ASD versus <0.1% controls; P < .001). Children with ASD were more likely to have parental (4.9% ASD versus 1.0% controls; OR, 5 [95% CI, 2.1-12]; P < .001) and child life specialist (1.3% ASD versus 0.1% controls; OR, 9.9 [95% CI, 2.3-43]; P < .001) presence at induction, but were more likely to have a difficult induction (11% ASD versus 3.4% controls; OR, 3.42 [95% CI, 1.7-6.7]; P < .001). There were no significant differences in postoperative opioid administration, emergence delirium, vomiting, or PACU length of stay between cohorts. We found no difference in maximum PACU pain scores in children with ASD compared to a similarly weighted cohort without ASD. Children with ASD had higher odds of a difficult induction despite similar rates of premedication administration, and significantly higher parental and child life specialist presence at induction. These findings highlight the need for future research to develop evidence-based interventions to optimize the perioperative care of this population.

Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine Decreases Postoperative Pain after Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Postoperative pain is one of the most common complications after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD); however, there have been only a few studies assessing the efficacy of interventions on postoperative pain after gastric ESD. This prospective randomized controlled trial was designed to assess the effect of intraoperative dexmedetomidine (DEX) on postoperative pain after gastric ESD. A total of 60 patients undergoing elective gastric ESD under general anesthesia were randomly divided into the DEX group receiving DEX with a loading dose of 1 μg/kg, followed by a maintenance dose of 0.6 μg/kg/h until 30 min before the end of the endoscopic procedure, and the control group receiving normal saline. The primary outcome was the visual analog scale (VAS) score of postoperative pain. Secondary outcomes were the dosage of morphine for postoperative pain control, hemodynamic changes during the observable period, the occurrence of adverse events, lengths of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital stays, and patient satisfaction. The incidence of postoperative moderate to severe pain was 27% and 53% in the DEX and control groups, respectively, with a significant difference. Compared to the control group, VAS pain scores at 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h postoperatively, the dosage of morphine in the PACU, and the total dosage of morphine within 24 h postoperatively were significantly decreased in the DEX group. Both incidences of hypotension and use of ephedrine in the DEX group were significantly decreased during surgery, but they were significantly increased in the postoperative period. Postoperative nausea and vomiting scores were decreased in the DEX group; however, the length of PACU stay, patient satisfaction, and duration of hospital stay were not significantly different between groups. Intraoperative DEX can significantly decrease postoperative pain level, with a slightly reduced dosage of morphine and a decreased severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting after gastric ESD.

Comparison of Performance Characteristics and Efficacy of Bilateral Thoracic Paravertebral Blocks in Obese and Non-Obese Patients Undergoing Reduction Mammaplasty Surgery: A Historical Cohort Study.

Although ultrasound (US)-guided regional anesthesia techniques are advantageous in the management of obese patients; the procedures can still be associated with technical difficulties and greater failure rates. The aim of this study is to compare the performance properties and analgesic efficacy of US-guided bilateral thoracic paravertebral blocks (TPVBs) in obese and non-obese patients. Data of 82 patients, who underwent bilateral reduction mammaplasty under general anesthesia with adjunctive TPVB analgesia between December 2016 and February 2020, were reviewed. Patients were allocated into two groups with respect to their BMI scores (Group NO: BMI<30 and Group O: BMI≥30). Demographics, ideal US visualization time, total bilateral TPVB procedure time, needle tip visualization and performance difficulties, number of needle maneuvers, surgical, anesthetic and analgesic follow-up parameters, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), sleep duration, length of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital stay, and patient/surgeon satisfaction scores were investigated. Seventy-nine patients' data were complete. Ideal US visualization and total TPVB performance times were shorter, number of needle maneuvers were fewer and length of PACU stay was shorter in Group NO (p<0.05). Postoperative pain scores were generally similar within first 24 h (p>0.05). Time to postoperative pain, total analgesic requirements, incidence of PONV, sleep duration, length of hospital stay were comparable (p>0.05). Satisfaction was slightly higher in Group NO (p<0.05). US-guided TPVB performances in obese patients might be more challenging and take longer time. However, it is still successful providing good acute pain control in patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty surgeries. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 . NCT04596787.

Preoperative Preparation and Guidelines for Cannabis-Using Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery

PurposeAppropriate preoperative screening techniques are needed to safely provide anesthesia to increasing numbers of cannabis using surgical patients. DesignThis was a quasi-experimental quality improvement project. MethodsPreoperative identification of cannabis users by registered nurses (RNs) and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) was compared to baseline identification rates. CRNAs’ compliance with evidenced base guidelines was recorded. Perioperative medication requirements were recorded and compared between cannabis-users and noncannabis users. FindingsIdentification of cannabis users by CRNAs conducting preanesthetic assessments increased from 4.08% to 14.36% while RN identification improved from 11.22% to 13.81%. Compliance with identification guidelines was 69.2% among CRNAs. There were no differences in anesthetic requirements, complications, or postanesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay between cannabis users and nonusers. ConclusionsPreoperative identification of cannabis users allows for safer, more effective perioperative care by CRNAs, registered nurses, and surgical staff.

Decreasing Opioids in Outpatient Breast Surgery with an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Program and Preoperative Education.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs have been detailed in the literature predominantly in the inpatient setting. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an ERAS protocol with a preoperative educational class on opioid prescribing and patient outcomes for outpatient breast surgery. An ERAS protocol was formulated focusing on preoperative education, multimodal pain control, and an intraoperative block. The study was conducted as an institutional review board-approved retrospective review. Women undergoing breast reconstruction revision, breast reduction, delayed insertion of prosthesis, tissue expander to implant exchange, and matching procedures were included. The patients were separated into pre-ERAS and ERAS cohorts. Data on demographic characteristics, postanesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay, PACU oral morphine equivalent (OME) consumption, outpatient OME prescriptions, major and minor complications, and need for additional opioid prescriptions were collected. Analysis was performed with the Fisher exact test or chi-square test as appropriate. Group 1 (pre-ERAS) and group 2 (ERAS) each included 68 patients. The cohorts had similar age, body mass index, diabetes status, and tobacco use. Group 1 was prescribed an average of 216 OMEs, compared with 126.4 OMEs for group 2, a 41.5% decrease ( P < 0.0001). The pre-ERAS group consumed an average of 23.3 OMEs in the PACU versus 16.6 OMEs in the ERAS group ( P = 0.005). Fewer patients in the ERAS group required additional prescriptions for narcotic pain medication at postoperative follow-up ( P = 0.116). No differences were seen in major or minor complications. An ERAS protocol that uses a multimodal approach to pain control and preoperative patient education is useful in the outpatient setting and can help decrease opioid consumption. Therapeutic, III.

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Article| December 2022 SEE Question ASA Monitor December 2022, Vol. 86, 13. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000904220.22330.89 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation SEE Question. ASA Monitor 2022; 86:13 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000904220.22330.89 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll PublicationsASA Monitor Search Advanced Search Topics: anesthesia, general, intraoperative care, length of stay, nitrous oxide, postoperative anesthesia care unit, surgical procedures, operative, intraoperative hypotension, vasoconstrictor agents Your next patient is a 65-year-old woman scheduled for a complex ventral hernia repair. According to a recent study, which of the following outcomes is MOST likely if you use a higher dose of nitrous oxide as an adjunct to the general anesthetic instead of no nitrous oxide? Since its first documented use by Horace Wells in 1844, nitrous oxide continues to be used as an adjunct when administering general anesthesia. Although it is known to facilitate emergence, the use of nitrous oxide is associated with an increased risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The impact of nitrous oxide on the overall length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is not well documented. The authors of a recent retrospective study sought to determine whether patients receiving intraoperative nitrous oxide as an adjunct to general anesthesia had a shorter PACU length of stay. This single-center study included 148,284 adults... You do not currently have access to this content.

Completion of an Enhanced Recovery Program in a Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery Center: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) was first established in 2001 focusing on recovery from complex surgical procedures in adults and recently expanded to ambulatory surgery. The evidence for ERAS in children is limited. In 2018, recognized experts began developing needed pediatric evidence. Center-wide efforts involving all ambulatory surgical patients and procedures have not previously been described. A comprehensive assessment and gap analysis of ERAS elements in our ambulatory center identified 11 of 19 existing elements. The leadership committed to implementing an Enhanced Recovery Program (ERP) to improve existing elements and close as many remaining gaps as possible. A quality improvement (QI) team was launched to improve 5 existing ERP elements and to introduce 6 new elements (target 17/19 ERP elements). The project plan was broken into 1 preparation phase to collect baseline data and 3 implementation phases to enhance existing and implement new elements. Statistical process control methodology was used. Team countermeasures were based on available evidence. A consensus process was used to resolve disagreement. Monthly meetings were held to share real-time data, gather new feedback, and modify countermeasure plans as needed. The primary outcome measure selected was mean postanesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcomes measures were mean maximum pain score in PACU and patient/family satisfaction scores. The team had expanded the pool of active ERP elements from 11 to 16 of 19. The mean PACU LOS demonstrated significant reduction (early in phase 1 and again in phase 3). No change was seen for the mean maximum pain score in PACU or surgical complication rates. Patient/family satisfaction scores were high and sustained throughout the period of study (91.1% ± 5.7%). Patient/family and provider engagement/compliance were high. This QI project demonstrated the feasibility of pediatric ERP in an ambulatory surgical setting. Furthermore, a center-wide approach was shown to be possible. Additional studies are needed to determine the relevance of this project to other institutions.

Sedative effect and safety of different doses of S-ketamine in combination with propofol during gastro-duodenoscopy in school-aged children: a prospective, randomized study

BackgroundPropofol combined with opioids can reduce the dosage of propofol and improve the safety of endoscopy. However, there are few studies on propofol combined with S-ketamine in children undergoing gastro-duodenoscopy. We aim to determine the sedative effect and safety of different doses of S-ketamine in combination with propofol in school-aged children undergoing gastro-duodenoscopy.MethodsThis is a prospective, randomized trial. Totally, 120 school-aged children who underwent gastro-duodenoscopy were randomly allocated into Group P, Group S0.3, Group S0.5 and Group S0.7. During induction, children in Group P, Group S0.3, Group S0.5 and Group S0.7 received 0, 0.3 mg.kg−1, 0.5 mg.kg−1 and 0.7 mg.kg−1 S-ketamine, respectively, following 3 mg.kg−1 propofol injection. During gastro-duodenoscopy, 1 mg.kg−1 of propofol was added according to the condition of the children and the BIS (bispectral index) value. The primary outcome was smooth placement rate of the first endoscope insertion. The secondary outcome was the times of additional propofol, the total amount of propofol, adverse events, recovery time, length of PACU (post anesthesia care unit) stay and endoscopist satisfaction.ResultsThe smooth placement rate of the first endoscope insertion in Group P, Group S0.3 and Group S0.5 was significantly lower than that in Group S0.7 (16.70%, 34.50%, 50.00% vs. 83.30%, respectively, P < 0.001). The times of additional propofol in Group S0.3 (P = 0.018), Group S0.5 (P = 0.014) and Group S0.7 (P = 0.001) were significantly less than Group P. The total amount of propofol in Group S0.7 was significantly less than Group P (P < 0.001). The incidence of intraoperative hypotension in Group S0.5 and Group S0.7 was low. Group S0.7 had significantly higher incidence of postoperative dizziness (P = 0.003), longer PACU stay (P = 0.018) and higher endoscopist satisfaction (P = 0.001) than Group P. There was no difference in the recovery time among groups.ConclusionS-ketamine (0.7 mg.kg−1) in combination with propofol can provide satisfactory sedative effect and reduce the dosage of propofol in school-aged children undergoing gastro-duodenoscopy, but there are higher incidence of postoperative dizziness and longer PACU stay.

Body Mass Index (BMI) Impact on Anesthetic Safety among Adolescents Undergoing Bilateral Reduction Mammaplasty.

A medical record query was performed to retrospectively identify patients who underwent bilateral reduction mammaplasty at our institution between January 2021 and December 2021. Patient demographics and clinical/surgical data were obtained from medical records. Pearson's chi-square, Fisher exact, and Median tests were used to examine associations between body mass index (BMI) category and clinical/demographic data. Two hundred patients were included in analyses, with a median age at surgery of 18.0 years. The majority of patients were obese (63.5%, n = 127), and none were underweight. The most common comorbidity was asthma (27.0%, n = 54). There were no anesthetic-related intraoperative complications or delayed waking. The following did not significantly differ by BMI category: proportion of patients who experienced oxygen desaturation (pre-, intra-, or postoperatively), frequency of postoperative complications, and length of postanesthesia care unit and total hospital stays (P > 0.05, all). While institutions may implement weight-based surgical policies due to anesthesia-related complication concerns in patients with obesity, our study showed that BMI category did not significantly impact anesthetic-related adverse events/surgical complications in our sample. This suggests that such policies are not warranted in all situations, and that decisions regarding their necessity be data-driven.

Postanesthesia Recovery Unit Optimization for Patients With Postictal Agitation Secondary to Electroconvulsive Therapy.

The occurrence of postictal agitation (PIA) can rapidly alter and intensify the level of care that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients require during their recovery in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). This operational analysis was undertaken to determine the impact PIA has on phase 1 PACU resources. This operational analysis was undertaken at the Seattle Division of the US Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System. From August 2019 to April 2020, we prospectively collected data on the recovery from ECT of 61 unique patients who underwent a total of 334 ECT sessions. Utilization of PACU resources was assessed by determining the PACU length of stay (LOS), onset of PIA, severity of PIA, and duration of agitation in encounters complicated by PIA. Seventy-nine occurrences of PIA occurred during the 334 ECT encounters. The mean ± SD PACU LOS was longer in encounters complicated by the occurrence of PIA compared with those not complicated by PIA (72 ± 32 and 59 ± 18 minutes respectively; P -value <0.05). Postanesthesia care unit LOS and mean duration of agitation increased as severity of PIA increased. The occurrence of PIA can rapidly alter and intensify the level of care that ECT patients may require. Postictal agitation has a significant impact on the phase 1 PACU LOS of patients undergoing ECT. Phase 1 PACU staffing models should factor in the acute and prolonged care needs of patients who develop PIA during the recovery from ECT.

The Effects of Listening to the Qur'an in the Postoperative Management of the Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in the Day Surgery Unit

PurposeTo determine if listening to verses of the Qur'an during the immediate postoperative period has an effect on patients’ anxiety levels, the number of opioids used to control pain, and the length of stay (LOS) in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). DesignRandomized Control Trial. Adult Muslim patients who had undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy through the Day Surgery Unit were randomly selected using computer-generated sequence into two groups, interventional and control groups. MethodsThe control group listened to the natural environment and received Fentanyl for pain relief, and the interventional group listened to the Qur'an recitation and received Fentanyl for pain relief. A total of 112 (79.4%) participants completed the study. The level of the pain and anxiety was measured using the Wong-Baker Faces pain scale and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS version 9.3 (Statistical Analysis System, SAS Institute Inc, Cary, North Carolina). FindingsThis study compared the effects of Qur'an audio therapy on patients' anxiety levels, opioid consumption, pain, and LOS in the PACU. The findings showed that by listening to chosen verses from the Qur'an in the recovery period post-anaesthesia, anxiety scores were significantly reduced (P = .0001), opiate use was reduced (P = .0081), and overall PACU LOS was also reduced (P = .0083). ConclusionsAdding the use of listening to the Qur'an as a complementary therapy is a simple and cost-effective measure to reduce the need for narcotics in the PACU, and reduce the overall PACU length of stay. This intervention benefits the patient, the PACU, and reduces health care organization costs.

The association of Serratus Anterior Plane blocks with postoperative opioid use and analgesia following simple lumpectomy: a retrospective cohort analysis

BackgroundThe potential benefit of regional interventions for simple lumpectomy breast cancer surgeries has not been well investigated. Understanding which patients to not offer a regional intervention to can be just as important as knowing which would benefit. It is unclear whether fascial plane blocks, such as serratus anterior plane (SAP) block, should be routinely performed for less extensive breast surgeries. Therefore, our goal in this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the association of integrating SAP blocks into a standard perioperative multimodal analgesia plan in patients undergoing simple lumpectomies (without node biopsies) with perioperative opioid consumption. As secondary outcomes, we also analyzed postoperative pain scores and post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay.MethodsThis was a single institution retrospective cohort study (surgical site infiltration only versus SAP block cohorts) assessing the association of SAP blocks to our outcomes of interest. In the adjusted analysis, we created matched cohorts using 1:1 (surgical site infiltration only: SAP block) propensity-score matching using nearest neighbor-matching without replacement. To compare the primary and secondary outcomes in the matched cohorts, we used the Wilcoxon signed rank test. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThere were 419 patients included in the analysis, in which 116 (27.7%) received a SAP block preoperatively in addition to our standard perioperative analgesia plan. In an unadjusted analysis, no differences were seen in perioperative opioid consumption, PACU pain scores, and PACU length of stay. Among the matched cohorts, the median [quartile] perioperative opioid consumption in the surgical site infiltration only versus SAP block cohorts were 10 mg [10, 13.25 mg] and 10 mg [7, 15 mg], respectively (P = 0.16). No differences were seen in the other outcomes.ConclusionsIn this study, we evaluated the impact of SAP blocks on patients undergoing simple lumpectomies, which are relatively less involved breast surgeries. We concluded that routine use of preoperative regional anesthesia is not beneficial for these specific patients. Future studies should focus on identifying patients that would directly benefit from regional interventions.

Utility of Erector Spinae Plane Blocks for Postoperative Pain Management and Opioid Reduction Following Lumbar Fusions.

Retrospective. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of the erector spinae plane regional anesthesia (ESP) block in reducing opioid medication usage and postanesthesia care unit length of stay (PACU-LOS) for patients undergoing either a posterior or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (PLIF/TLIF). Posterior lumbar spine fusion is a common surgical procedure typically associated with significant postoperative pain. Poorly controlled postoperative pain can lead to a number of poor outcomes. Although opioids are a mainstay for pain control, they are associated with adverse effects and a risk of dependence. Therefore, multimodal pain control has become more prevalent in orthopedics and combines traditional opioid and nonopioid pain mediation with general anesthesia protocols and regional nerve blocks. A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients undergoing PLIFs or TLIFs between 2019 and 2021. Patients were placed into 2 groups, those receiving an ESP block and those that did not. T tests assuming unequal variances were used to assess differences in pain scores, opioid consumption, and PACU-LOS between groups. The study group demonstrated a 35% reduction in opioid use ( P =0.016), a 16% reduction in pain with activity ( P =0.042), and a 9.7% reduction in pain at rest ( P =0.219) compared with the control group. There were no significant differences in PACU-LOS between groups ( P =0.314). The use of an ESP block for patients undergoing PLIFs and TLIFs appears to be a safe and effective means to manage postoperative pain and reduce opioid consumption.

Effect of rotigotine on the quality of emergence from general anesthesia in patients undergoing deep brain stimulation

Objective: To investigate the effect of rotigotine on the quality of emergence from general anesthesia in patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS). Methods: A total of 42 patients (31 males and 11 females, aged 55-85 years) undergoing DBS surgery under general anesthesia in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2020 to October 2021 were selected. The patients were divided into non-rotigotine group (n=21) and rotigotine group (n=21) by using a random number table according to whether rotigotine patch was used. Postoperative recovery time, extubation time, length of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, and grades of muscle tension, swallowing function and salivary secretion during recovery were compared between the two groups. Meanwhile, the incidence of adverse events during extubation was also compared. Results: The postoperative recovery time, extubation time and length of PACU stay in rotigotine group were (20.3±2.6) min, (30.6±3.1) min and (46.4±3.9) min, respectively, which were shorter than those of non-rotigotine group [(29.0±5.8) min, (42.6±10.0) min and (63.0±18.9) min, respectively] (all P<0.05). The grades of postoperative muscle tension, swallowing function and salivary secretion in rotigotine group [M(Q1, Q3)] were 1(1, 2), 1(1, 2) and 1(1, 1), respectively, which were lower than those of non-rotigotine group [2(2, 3), 2(2, 2) and 2(1, 2), respectively] (P=0.001, 0.002 and 0.011). The incidence of adverse events during anesthesia extubation in rotigotine group was 14.3% (3/21), which was lower than that of non-rotigotine group [42.9% (9/21), P=0.040]. Conclusion: Rotigotin patch is helpful to improve the quality of emergence from general anesthesia in patients undergoing DBS and reduce the occurrence of adverse events during extubation.

Leveraging Real-world Data to Increase Procedure Room Capacity: A Multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Project.

In the current healthcare climate, the financial strain created by COVID-19, limited resources, and case backlogs highlight the need to optimize operating and procedure room efficiency and maximize capacity. At Seattle Children's, a clinical multidisciplinary team developed and implemented a data-driven protocol to improve efficiency in a high-volume gastrointestinal (GI) suite. Key process measures, including all case on-time starts and postanesthesia care unit length of stay, were extracted from the electronic medical record and presented as Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts. Clinicians' performance was stratified by rational subgrouping to better understand variation in the system. We defined an expert clinician as one who performs beyond 3-sigma limits on funnel plot analyses. We developed clinical protocols based on expert clinician clinical practices. We gave clinicians dynamic, daily feedback on this family of measures through continuously updated SPC charts. This real-world data drove system and individual-level plan-do-check-act improvement cycles. Despite significant external challenges over 2 years, procedure volume increased by approximately 25%, on-time starts improved by 36%, turnover time decreased by 34%, and postanesthesia care unit length of stay decreased by 15%. GI laboratory revenue increased by approximately 25% (independent of increased charges per procedure), representing the potential for a $2 million increase in annual revenue. A multidisciplinary clinical team improved efficiency metrics in a busy pediatric GI suite. Access to real-world data through continuously updated SPC charts enabled plan-do-check-act cycles that led to measurable improvement. This data access also served to sustain team motivation and engagement.

Opioid-free total intravenous anesthesia for thyroid and parathyroid surgery: Protocol for a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

BackgroundOpioid-free anesthesia (OFA) may improve postoperative outcomes by reducing opioid-related adverse effects. This study aims to evaluate the effects of OFA on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postoperative pain, and 30-day outcomes after thyroid and parathyroid surgery.MethodsThis two-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial will include 400 adult patients scheduled for thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Patients will be randomly assigned, 1:1 and stratified by sex and site, to an OFA group (esketamine, lidocaine, and dexmedetomidine) or a control group (opioid-based anesthesia with sufentanil). All patients will receive propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia and PONV prophylaxis with dexamethasone and ondansetron. The primary outcome is the incidence of PONV (defined as experiencing any event of nausea, retching, or vomiting) during the first 48 h postoperatively. The secondary outcomes include the severity of PONV, antiemetic rescue therapy, pain scores at rest and while coughing, need for rescue analgesia, perioperative adverse effects related to anesthetics or analgesics (hypotension, bradycardia, hypertension, tachycardia, desaturation, dizziness, headache, hallucination, and nightmare), time to extubation, length of post-anesthesia care unit stay, length of postoperative hospital stay, patient satisfaction, and a composite of 30-day major adverse events (myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, cerebrovascular accident, coma, acute renal failure, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, septic shock, deep neck space infection, reintubation, reoperation, blood transfusion, failure to wean off ventilator, and death). Analyses will be performed in the modified intention-to-treat population.DiscussionWe hypothesize that our OFA regimen reduces PONV after thyroid and parathyroid surgery. We will also investigate whether OFA leads to improvements in postoperative pain and major adverse events. Our results will offer evidence for optimizing anesthesia regimens in patients who undergo thyroid and parathyroid surgical procedures.Clinical trial registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2200059656.

The Effect of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrate on the Incidence of Complications in PACU After General Anesthesia: A Prospective Cohort Study

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative oral carbohydrate (POC) loading on the occurrence of complications in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) after general anesthesia. DesignProspective observational cohort study MethodsPatients who were scheduled for abdominal surgery under general anesthesia at our institution were divided into the POC group and control group based on whether they drank carbohydrate solution 2 hours before surgery. POC loading of the patients was decided by the responsible surgeon. In PACU, the occurrence of postoperative complications including delayed emergence, emergence agitation, hypoxemia, hypertension, hypotension, moderate to severe postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, hypothermia, shivering, and time to awakening, time to extubation, length of PACU stay were recorded. FindingsData from 307 patients (n = 154 in POC group and n = 153 in control group) were included in the final analysis. Compared to the control group, POC led to a near-significant reduction in the overall incidence of complications in PACU after surgery (37.0% vs 47.7%, P = .058). The POC group had a lower incidence of hypothermia and shorter mean time to awakening when compared to control group (6.5% vs 16.3%, P = .007 and 19 min vs 21 min, P = .007, respectively). No statistical differences were detected in other outcome measurements between the POC group and the control group. ConclusionsPOC is associated with a trend to decrease the overall incidence of complications during recovery period after general anesthesia in patients who underwent abdominal surgery. Moreover, POC could reduce the risk of hypothermia in PACU and shorten the time to awakening.