Opioid-free General Anesthesia Research Articles

Opioid-free general anesthesia: considerations, techniques, and limitations.

To discuss the role of opioids during general anesthesia and examine their advantages and risks in the context of clinical practice. We define opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) as the absolute avoidance of intraoperative opioids. In most minimally invasive and short-duration procedures, nonopioid analgesics, analgesic adjuvants, and local/regional analgesia can significantly spare the amount of intraoperative opioid needed. OFA should be considered in the context of tailoring to a specific patient and procedure, not as a universal approach. Strategies considered for OFA involve several adjuncts with low therapeutic range, requiring continuous infusions and resources, with potential for delayed recovery or other side effects, including increased short-term and long-term pain. No evidence indicates that OFA leads to decreased long-term opioid-related harms. Complete avoidance of intraoperative opioids remains questionable, as it does not necessarily ensure avoidance of postoperative opioids. Multimodal analgesia including local/regional anesthesia may allow OFA for selected, minimally invasive surgeries, but further research is necessary in surgeries with high postoperative opioid requirements. Until there is definitive evidence regarding procedure and patient-specific combinations as well as the dose and duration of administration of adjunct agents, it is imperative to practice opioid-sparing approach in the intraoperative period.

Effect of Opioid-Free General Anesthesia Versus Opioid-Based General Anesthesia on Postoperative Pain and Immune Response in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of Opioid-Free General Anesthesia Versus Opioid-Based General Anesthesia on Postoperative Pain and Immune Response in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Application of opioid-free general anesthesia in laparoscopy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

Applying opioid-free general anesthesia (OFGA) in laparoscopy was controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of employing OFGA in laparoscopy. Relevant clinical trials to include in this systematic review and meta-analysis were scrutinized through electronic databases such as Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. The quality of selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was assessed by Cochrane Collaboration’s bias risk assessment tool. The meta-analysis was conducted on Review Manager 5.3. The quality of evidence was assessed in accordance with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. The analysis in this study included 14 RCTs involving 1042 patients. No notable variation examined in 24-hour postoperative pain score between the opioid-based and OFGA groups (mean difference = −0.43, 95% confidence interval (−1.08, 0.22); p = 0.19). However, OFGA application reduced the postoperative analgesic needs and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The meta-analysis and systematic review findings indicated that OFGA could be effectively and safely used in laparoscopy.

Efficacy of opioid-free anesthesia in modified radical mastectomy: a cross-sectional observational study.

Perioperative management of female patients undergoing breast surgeries differs from other patients due to chronic pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting. The anesthesia could consist of opioid-free general anesthesia (OFA) or non-opioid-free general anesthesia (NOFA). OFA relies on multimodal analgesia preoperatively and postoperatively. However, it is not yet established whether OFA could replace NOFA as a standard regimen for the management of breast surgeries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of OFA for breast surgeries in female patients. Patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy were retrospectively recruited. Two groups were defined: group 1, consisting of treated patients using OFA and group 2, consisting of treated patients using NOFA. Mean time to extubate and mean dose of morphine after recovery were computed. Postoperative morphine and antiemetic use were assessed for up to 24h. A comparison of the computed data was conducted between both groups. A total of 116 patients were included with a mean age of 53±13 years. Group 1 consisted of 56 (mean age was 54±14 years). Group 2 consisted of 60 patients (mean age was 51±12 years). Demographic parameters and time to extubate did not yield significant differences. We noticed morphine sparing at T0 and T12 with statistically significant differences P=0.043 and P=0.006, respectively. OFA could be considered in modified radical mastectomy management in female patients; nerve block seemed to act as morphine sparing in operative and postoperative settings by providing significantly less time to extubate with less postoperative morphine requirement.

Application of opioid-free general anesthesia for gynecological laparoscopic surgery under ERAS protocol: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial

BackgroundEnhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is now widely used in various surgical fields including gynecological laparoscopic surgery, but the advantages of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) in gynecological laparoscopic surgery under ERAS protocol are inexact.AimsThis study aims to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of OFA technique versus traditional opioid-based anesthesia (OA) technique in gynecological laparoscopic surgery under ERAS.MethodsAdult female patients aged 18 ~ 65 years old undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery were randomly divided into OFA group (Group OFA, n = 39) with esketamine and dexmedetomidine or OA group (Group OA, n = 38) with sufentanil and remifentanil. All patients adopted ERAS protocol. The primary outcome was the area under the curve (AUC) of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores (AUCVAS) postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative hemodynamic variables, awakening and orientation recovery times, number of postoperative rescue analgesia required, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) perioperatively.ResultsAUCVAS was (Group OFA, 16.72 ± 2.50) vs (Group OA, 15.99 ± 2.72) (p = 0.223). No difference was found in the number of rescue analgesia required (p = 0.352). There were no between-group differences in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) (p = 0.211 and 0.659, respectively) except MAP at time of surgical incision immediately [(Group OFA, 84.38 ± 11.08) vs. (Group OA, 79.00 ± 8.92), p = 0.022]. Times of awakening and orientation recovery in group OFA (14.54 ± 4.22 and 20.69 ± 4.92, respectively) were both longer than which in group OA (12.63 ± 3.59 and 18.45 ± 4.08, respectively) (p = 0.036 and 0.033, respectively). The incidence of PONV in group OFA (10.1%) was lower than that in group OA (28.9%) significantly (p = 0.027). The postoperative PSQI was lower than the preoperative one in group OFA (p = 0.013).ConclusionIn gynecological laparoscopic surgery under ERAS protocol, OFA technique is non-inferior to OA technique in analgesic effect and intraoperative anesthesia stability. Although awakening and orientation recovery times were prolonged compared to OA, OFA had lower incidence of PONV and improved postoperative sleep quality.Trial registrationChiCTR2100052761, 05/11/2021.

OPIOID FREE GENERAL ANESTHESIA IN CLINICAL PRACTICE - A REVIEW ARTICLE.

Currently, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are multimodal perioperative care pathways with the goal to achieve early patient recovery after surgery with minimal postoperative complications. According to studies, opioid free general anesthesia has many perioperative benefits and should be part of the ERAS protocols in specific surgical and patient indications. Opioid free general anesthesia is a multimodal balanced technique that is based on the concept that opioids are not used preoperatively or intraoperatively until the patient has aroused. The basic concept of opioid free general anesthesia is intravenous administration of several nonopioid drugs that operate at different pharmacological sites blocking surgical stress and sympathetic activation response. Moreover, current studies have shown that opioid free anesthesia is a technique which satisfactorily controls postoperative pain as the fifth vital sign, and has minimal side effects and better patient recovery with the same surgical conditions as general multimodal balanced anesthesia. However, further research is needed.

Author’s Response to Letter to the Editor: Is Opioid-Free General Anesthesia More Superior for Postoperative Pain Versus Opioid General Anesthesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?

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Comparative Study between Opioid-Free General Anesthesia by Dexmedetomidine and Opioid-Based General Anesthesia in Rhinoplasty Surgeries

Abstract Background The use of opioid-free analgesic technique have the propensity to decrease and even avoid many of these side effects and lead to early oral intake, early ambulation, earlier hospital discharge, and lesser readmission rates to the hospital in the post-operative period. Aim of the Work to compare the effect of opioid-free using Dexmedetomidine and opioid-based using Fentanyl on hemodynamics (inducing deliberate hypotension and providing a better surgical field exposure), post-operative pain intensity and the incidence of side effects in patients scheduled for rhinoplasty surgeries. Patients and Methods This study included Fifty adult patients undergoing rhinoplasty surgery. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group D received Dexmedetomidine and Group F received Fentanyl. Patients are ASA physical status I, age group ranged from 18 to 45 years. Results The study revealed a statistically significant decrease mean of group D compared to group F according to intraoperative mean arterial blood pressure. statistically significant decrease mean of group D compared to group F according to intraoperative heart rate (beat/min). Conclusion We found that dexmedetomidine is better than fentanyl for patients who undergo rhinoplasty surgeries to achieve controlled hypotension, decrease dosages of postoperative analgesics, prolong the duration of postoperative analgesia and decrease postoperative nausea and vomiting.

The Efficacy of Opioid-Free General Anesthesia in the Management of Hip Surgeries in Elderly Patients.

IntroductionPerioperative management of elderly patients differ from young patients due to physiologic and pharmacologic differences related to aging. Moreover, assessment for perioperative parameters and risks between age-matched elderly patients should be discerned while planning for the anaesthesia regimen. The latter could consist of opioid-free general anaesthesia (OFA) or non-opioid-free general anaesthesia (NOFA). Among the parameters for assessing the regimen’s efficacy, time to extubate and pain control should be included. However, it is not yet established whether OFA could replace NOFA as a standard regimen for management of hip fracture. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of OFA for hip surgeries in elderly patients.MethodsThis is a retrospective study consisting of patients undergoing hip surgeries under opioid-free or opioid-induced general anaesthesia. Two groups were defined: Group 1 consisting of treated patients using OFA and Group 2 consisting of treated patients using NOFA. Patient demographics (age, sex, and weight), mean time to extubate and mean dose of morphine after recovery were computed. Postoperative morphine use was assessed for up to 24 hours. Comparison of the computed data was conducted between both groups. Mean postoperative morphine use was compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test. The remainder of the means were compared using independent t-test. Qualitative data were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Level of significance was set at p<0.05.ResultsA total of 73 patients were included. Group 1 consisted of 37 patients (12 were males with mean age 77±14 years) who underwent hip fracture procedure whereas Group 2 consisted of 36 patients (18 were males with mean age 73±17). There were significant differences when comparing sex, weight, and time to extubate (6.8±3 and 10±5 minutes in Groups 1 and 2, respectively; p<0.05). There were six patients in Group 1 and 17 patients in Group 2 that required postoperative morphine administration. Mann-Whitney U comparison of postoperative morphine use yielded significant differences (4.8±3 and 14.65±13 mg in Groups 1 and 2, respectively; p=0.001).DiscussionThis is the first study that assessed the efficacy of OFA compared to NOFA in the management of hip fractures. Non-significant differences in age might suggest that both groups are age matched. In addition, significant differences in time to extubate might help in reducing impact on ventilation, maintaining safe anaesthesia while minimizing intraoperative work overflow. Patients in Group 1 required less morphine in the postoperative setting than in Group 2. This might be explained by the sensation of paraesthesia which might have been confused with pain.ConclusionsOFA could be considered in hip management in elderly patients; femoral and lateral cutaneous block seemed to act as morphine sparing in operative and postoperative settings by providing significantly less time to extubate with less postoperative morphine requirement.

Safe anesthesia, analgesic and sedation in the surgery of head and neck tumors

Highly traumatic surgical interventions for head and neck tumors were performed in 62 adult patients under conditions of multimodal opioid-free general anesthesia, which included dexmedetomidine, lidocaine, nefopam, and sevoflurane. In 18 cases, due to trismus II – IV degree, fibro optic nasotracheal intubation was used, in 10 patients with laryngeal stenosis, the operation was started with tracheotomy under local anesthesia. In all 28 cases, local anesthesia was supplemented by sedation with intravenous (IV) administration of dexmedetomidine and lidocaine, which was enhanced by the addition of sub-drug doses (10–20 mg) of ketamine. Consciousness and spontaneous breathing were preserved in all observations. Before intubation, propofol and rocuronium were added, and at the stage of the main operation, against the background of intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine and lidocaine, inhalation of sevoflurane vapors (1–1.5 MAC). In 62 cases, the course of the operation and anesthesia was smooth, awakening and restoration of spontaneous breathing occurred after the end of the operation. Postoperative pain relief for the first two days was in the form of a continuous iv infusion of a 3-component mixture of 1% lidocaine and two non-opioid analgesics (nefopam and tenoxicam) using a disposable elastomeric pump. In the next 3-4 days, they switched to intramuscular administration of nefopam and tenoxicam. The quality of pain relief was high, without clinically significant complications. Only in three cases, at the beginning of mastering the technique, it was necessary to resort to an additional single injection of promedol or tramadol.

OPIOID FREE ANESTHESIA IN A PRE-TERM NEONATE: A CASE REPORT

Opioids play a major role in the perioperative management of pain in adults and children. Though there is significant morbidity and mortality associated with overdosage of opioids, they remain the most common means of providing analgesia in the perioperative period. We report the case of a preterm neonate born with low birth weight who underwent high sigmoid loop colostomy for high anorectal malformation using opioid-free general anesthesia with supplementation with caudal block. Successful uncomplicated extubation of preterm baby was achieved with good spontaneous efforts. Opioid free general anesthesia can prevent respiratory depression and the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation even when given to preterm neonates.

A Retrospective Analysis of the Safety and Efficacy of Opioid-free Anesthesia versus Opioid Anesthesia for General Cesarean Section.

IntroductionWhile uncommon for cesarean delivery, general anesthesia may be patient requested or necessary due to maternal contraindication. Traditionally, opioids are used as a part of the general anesthetic. Because of their associated complications, it is standard to limit opioid use and fetal narcotic exposure during cesarean delivery. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the feasibility of multi-modal opioid-free general anesthesia for cesarean delivery.MethodsElectronic medical records were obtained for patients receiving general anesthesia for cesarean delivery of live pregnancies through 2017 at our tertiary care facility. Post-operative pain was estimated using a 10-cm visual analogue scale and by calculating postoperative narcotic requirements in milligram morphine equivalents (MME) over three-time periods: during post-anesthesia recovery in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), the first 24 hrs after PACU discharge, and 24-48 hrs after PACU discharge. Apgar scores were also obtained to quantify neonatal effects of the general anesthetic.ResultsEight of 17 patients (47.06%) received opioid-free anesthesia (OFA), and nine of 17 patients (52.94%) received anesthesia with opioids (OA). No significant difference was found between groups in terms of postoperative mean Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score over each time period. Similarly, no significant difference was found between groups in terms of postoperative narcotics requirement at all study points. Apgar scores were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionThe OFA group displayed equivalent analgesia to the OA group in terms of self-reported VAS pain scores and postoperative MME. A larger prospective study is recommended to fully evaluate OFA for cesarean delivery.

Different protocols used today to achieve total opioid-free general anesthesia without locoregional blocks.

With increasing awareness of both short- and long-term problems associated with liberal perioperative opioid administration, the need for routinely and clinically feasible alternatives is greater than ever. Opioid-free anesthesia-previously reserved for bariatric surgery-is receiving increasing attention in mainstream anesthesia. In this review, we present the truly multimodal concept of opioid-free anesthesia, which circumvents a number of opioid-related problems. For a concrete clinical perspective, we present in depth our opioid-free protocol for bariatric surgery. However, clinicians must be aware of potential problems related to opioid-free anesthesia.