Postoperative Morphine Use Research Articles

Prevalence, Predictors, and Early Outcomes of Post-operative Delirium in Patients With Type A Aortic Dissection During Intensive Care Unit Stay

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and explore the predictors and early outcomes of post-operative delirium (POD) in patients with type A aortic dissection (AAD) during intensive care unit (ICU) stays.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 301 patients with AAD who underwent surgical treatment in our institution from January 2017 to December 2018.Results: Delirium developed in 73 patients (24.25%) during the ICU stay. Patients with lower estimated glomerular filtration rates [odds ratio (OR) 0.84, 95% CI 0.74–0.94, p = 0.003], post-operative midazolam use (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.33–4.23, p = 0.004), and post-operative morphine use (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.07–3.29, p = 0.029) were more susceptible to developing POD. Patients who developed POD had a longer ICU stay (11.52 vs. 7.22 days, p < 0.001) and hospital stay (23.99 vs. 18.91, p = 0.007) with higher hospitalization costs (48.82 vs. 37.66 thousand dollars, p < 0.001) than those without POD. The in-hospital mortality rate was higher in the delirium group, but the difference was not significant (6.85 vs. 4.82%, p = 0.502).Conclusions: The incidence of POD in patients with AAD was high and was associated with renal dysfunction and the use of midazolam and morphine. POD was associated with poor early outcomes, suggesting the importance of early screening, such as for renal dysfunction, and prevention by using sedation scales to minimize the use of midazolam and morphine in these patients.

267. The impact of preventative multimodal analgesia on postoperative opioid requirement and pain control in patients undergoing lumbar fusions

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Preventive multimodal analgesia (PMA) addresses multiple sources and pathways of acute and chronic pain by interfering with peripheral and central sensitization and should provide a way to achieve safer and more effective pain management with reduced opioid medication use. PURPOSE The main objectives of this study were to determine the impact of PMA on postoperative opioid requirements and analgesic effectiveness in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING A prospective observational study with a historical reference group was performed. PATIENT SAMPLE The study compared postoperative opioid requirement and analgesic effect in a total of 103 patients undergoing elective, one- or two-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgeries for symptomatic lumbar degenerative disc disease. The PMA patient group included 52 consecutive patients who received 1000 mg of acetaminophen, 300 – 900 mg of gabapentin, and 200 – 400 mg of celecoxib 1 hour before the procedure. The reference group included 51 patients who received 15 mg of morphine-equivalent dose (MED) preoperatively. OUTCOME MEASURES Postoperative opioid requirement and pain scores. METHODS Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the influence of PMA on pain, MED and acetaminophen use over 4 postoperative days (PODs), while controlling for all variables likely to influence these outcomes, including age, gender, baseline opioid use, duration of surgery, postoperative intrathecal morphine use and administration of muscle relaxants and anticonvulsants. RESULTS The differences in opioid requirement and postoperative pain scores were statistically significant on all four postoperative days. The effect size varied from -0.54 to -0.99 for the postoperative opioid requirement and from -0.59 to -1.16 for postoperative pain indicating that these measures were reduced by about ½ to 1 standard deviation in the PMA patient group. CONCLUSIONS PMA is a highly effective method for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgeries, which not only improves pain control, but also reduces opioid requirement. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Patient-Controlled Intravenous Morphine Analgesia on Analgesic Use and Post-Thoracotomy Pain. A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled, Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial.

BackgroundTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is used for various chronic pain conditions, but experience with tDCS for acute postoperative pain is limited. This study investigated the effect of tDCS vs. sham stimulation on postoperative morphine consumption and pain intensity after thoracotomy.MethodsThis is a single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial in lung cancer patients undergoing thoracotomy under general anesthesia. All patients received patient-controlled (PCA) intravenous morphine and intercostal nerve blocks at the end of surgery. The intervention group (a-tDCS, n = 31) received anodal tDCS over the left primary motor cortex (C3-Fp2) for 20 min at 1.2 mA, on five consecutive days; the control group (n = 31) received sham stimulation. Morphine consumption, number of analgesia demands, and pain intensity at rest, with movement and with cough were recorded at the following intervals: immediately before (T1), immediately after intervention (T2), then every hour for 4 h (Т3–Т6), then every 6 h (Т7–Т31) for 5 days. We recorded outcomes on postoperative days 1 and 5 and conducted a phone interview inquiring about chronic pain 1 year later (NCT03005548).ResultsA total of 62 patients enrolled, but tDCS was prematurely stopped in six patients. Fifty-five patients (27 a-tDCS, 28 sham) had three or more tDCS applications and were included in the analysis. Cumulative morphine dose in the first 120 h after surgery was significantly lower in the tDCS [77.00 (54.00–123.00) mg] compared to sham group [112.00 (79.97–173.35) mg, p = 0.043, Cohen’s d = 0.42]. On postoperative day 5, maximum visual analog scale (VAS) pain score with cough was significantly lower in the tDCS group [29.00 (20.00–39.00) vs. 44.50 (30.00–61.75) mm, p = 0.018], and pain interference with cough was 80% lower [10.00 (0.00–30.00) vs. 50.00 (0.00–70.00), p = 0.013]. One year after surgery, there was no significant difference between groups with regard to chronic pain and analgesic use.ConclusionIn lung cancer patients undergoing thoracotomy, three to five tDCS sessions significantly reduced cumulative postoperative morphine use, maximum VAS pain scores with cough, and pain interference with cough on postoperative day 5, but there was no obvious long-term benefit from tDCS.

Does intravenous acetaminophen reduce perioperative opioid use in pediatric tonsillectomy?

Postoperative pain control is of significant interest in pediatric otolaryngology given the safety concerns with opioid use. We sought to determine if addition of intraoperative intravenous acetaminophen decreases perioperative morphine use in pediatric tonsillectomy. This study is a retrospective cohort study performed at a tertiary care academic children's hospital. 166 pediatric patients (aged 1-16 years) who underwent tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy were for review. Seventy-four patients received intraoperative intravenous acetaminophen (intervention cohort), while ninety-two patients served as our control and did not receive any intraoperative intravenous acetaminophen. Perioperative (intraoperative and postoperative) morphine use was our primary outcome measure. Rate of adverse events in the post anesthesia care unit and time for discharge readiness were secondary outcome measures. Wilcoxon two-sample t-test approximation and Fisher's exact test were used for data analyses. Patients in the intravenous acetaminophen cohort received less morphine (mg/kg) intraoperatively (0.058 versus 0.070, p = 0.089) and in the post anesthesia care unit (0.034 versus 0.051, p = 0.034) than the control cohort. The median time to discharge readiness for the intravenous acetaminophen and control groups was 108.5 versus 105 min (p = 0.018). There was no adverse respiratory event (oxygen desaturation <92% lasting more than a minute, requiring bag mask ventilation or reintubation) in either group in the post anesthesia care unit. There were 5 (7%) episodes of postoperative vomiting in the IV APAP, while 2 (2%) were recorded in the control cohort (p = 0.244). Our findings suggest intraoperative intravenous acetaminophen use in pediatric tonsillectomy can decrease the perioperative use of opioid for optimal pain management.

The Impact of Preventative Multimodal Analgesia on Postoperative Opioid Requirement and Pain Control in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Fusions

Abstract INTRODUCTION Preventive multimodal analgesia (PMA) addresses multiple sources and pathways of acute and chronic pain by interfering with peripheral and central sensitization and should provide a way to achieve safer and more effective pain management with reduced opioid medication use. The main objectives of this study were to determine the impact of PMA on postoperative opioid requirements and analgesic effectiveness in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery. METHODS A prospective observational study with a historical reference group was performed. The study compared the postoperative opioid requirement and analgesic effect in a total of 103 patients undergoing elective, one- or two-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgeries for symptomatic lumbar degenerative disc diseases. The PMA patient group included 52 consecutive patients who received 1000 mg of acetaminophen, 300 consecutive patients receiving 900 mg of gabapentin, and 200 consecutive patients receiving 400 mg of celecoxib 1 h before the procedure. The reference group included 51 patients who received 15 mg of morphine-equivalent dose (MED) preoperatively. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the influence of PMA on pain, MED, and acetaminophen use over 4 postoperative days (PODs), while controlling for all variables likely to influence these outcomes, including age, gender, baseline opioid use, duration of surgery, postoperative intrathecal morphine use, and administration of muscle relaxants and anticonvulsants. RESULTS The differences in opioid requirement and postoperative pain scores were statistically significant on all 4 postoperative days. The effect size varied from –0.54 to –0.99 for the postoperative opioid requirement and from –0.59 to –1.16 for postoperative pain, indicating that these measures were reduced by about ½ to 1 standard deviation in the PMA patient group. CONCLUSION PMA is a highly effective method for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgeries, which not only improves pain control, but also reduces the opioid requirement.

Effect of transversus abdominis plane block in combination with general anesthesia on perioperative opioid consumption, hemodynamics, and recovery in living liver donors: The prospective, double-blinded, randomized study.

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block provides effective postoperative analgesia after abdominal surgeries. It can be also a useful strategy to reduce perioperative opioid consumption, support intraoperative hemodynamic stability, and promote early recovery from anesthesia. The aim of this prospective randomized double-blind study was to assess the effect of subcostal TAP blocks on perioperative opioid consumption, hemodynamic, and recovery time in living liver donors. The prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study was conducted with 49 living liver donors, aged 18-65years, who were scheduled to undergo right hepatectomy. Patients who received subcostal TAP block in combination with general anesthesia were allocated into Group 1, and patients who received general anesthesia alone were allocated into Group 2. The TAP blocks were performed bilaterally by obtaining an image with real-time ultrasound guidance using 0.5% bupivacaine diluted with saline to reach a total volume of 40mL. The primary outcome measure in our study was perioperative remifentanil consumption. Secondary outcomes were mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR), mean desflurane requirement, anesthesia recovery time, frequency of emergency vasopressor use, total morphine use, and length of hospital stay. Total remifentanil consumption and the anesthesia recovery time were significantly lower in Group 1 compared with Group 2. Postoperative total morphine use and length of hospital stay were also reduced. Changes in the MAP and HR were similar in the both groups. There were no significant differences in HR and MBP between groups at any time. Combining subcostal TAP blocks with general anesthesia significantly reduced perioperative and postoperative opioid consumption, provided shorter anesthesia recovery time, and length of hospital stay in living liver donors.

Prolonged Perioperative Low-Dose Ketamine Does Not Improve Short and Long-term Outcomes After Pediatric Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, with a six-month follow-up period. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a 72-hour dose of subanesthetic ketamine in this surgical procedure reduces postoperative morphine use and to assess whether there are fewer adverse effects, if postoperative recovery is faster, if there is less peri-incisional hyperalgesia, or if there is lower incidence of persistent postsurgical pain. Tissue injury and high opioid requirements following posterior spinal fusion surgery produce central sensitization, which can in turn be associated with hyperalgesia and chronic pain. Clinical trials involving this type of procedure using subanesthetic ketamine doses have assessed pain and morphine requirements with contradictory results. The effects of prolonged subanesthetic ketamine doses on postoperative recovery, mechanical hyperalgesia, and the incidence of chronic pain are unknown. A total of 48 pediatric patients between 10 and 18 years diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis were randomized to receive perioperative low-dose ketamine or placebo for 72 hours. They received general anesthesia, intraoperative remifentanil, and morphine postoperatively (patient-controlled analgesia). We measured morphine consumption, pain at rest and during movement (coughing), undesirable effects, and sedation during morphine treatment. The onset of oral intake, ambulation, and hospital stay were recorded. The extent of the peri-incisional hyperalgesia was measured at 72 hours and pain controls were conducted postsurgery. Primary endpoint results (total cumulative morphine consumption while admitted) were obtained in 44 patients. Results were 2.72 (SD 1.13) in the placebo group and 3.13 (SD 1.13) in the study group (P = 0.2903), with no significant differences. Moreover, differences were not found between the experimental group and the placebo group in the secondary endpoints analyzed. Our findings do not support the routine combining of prolonged subanesthetic ketamine doses with opioids in posterior fusion surgery in children with idiopathic scoliosis. 2.

Effect of Intravenous High Dose Vitamin C on Postoperative Pain and Morphine Use after Laparoscopic Colectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and Objective. Vitamin C has antioxidant, neuroprotective, and neuromodulating effects. Recently, it showed antinociceptive effect as a result of the antioxidant properties. Therefore, we designed this study to assess the effect of intravenous vitamin C on opiate consumption and pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomy. Methods. A total of 100 patients were enrolled and allocated to receive 50 mg/kg vitamin C or placebo by intravenous infusion immediately after induction of anesthesia. Morphine consumption and scores of pain were assessed at 2, 6, and 24 h after completion of surgery. Results. There were 97 patients included in the analysis. Patients who received vitamin C had higher plasma concentrations of vitamin C at the end of surgery, significantly lower morphine consumption at the 2 h after end of surgery, and significantly lower pain scores at rest during first 24 h postoperatively. There was no significant difference between groups in side effects, fatigue score, or pain score during cough. Conclusion. This study shows high dose vitamin C infusion decreased postoperative pain during the first 24 h and reduced morphine consumption in the early postoperative period. Additional research needed to examine whether higher doses of vitamin C and longer infusion times can amplify these effects.

Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia in Patients After Surgery

Background Opioids can increase sensitivity to noxious stimuli and cause opioid-induced hyperalgesia. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the clinical consequences of intra-operative doses of opioid. Methods We identified randomized controlled trials which compared intra-operative opioid to lower doses or placebo in adult patients undergoing surgery from MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILAC, Cochrane, and hand searches of trial registries. We pooled data of postoperative pain intensity, morphine consumption, incidence of opioid-related side-effects, primary and secondary hyperalgesia. For dichotomous outcomes relative risks [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] and for continuous outcomes mean differences (MDs) or standardized mean difference (SMD; 95% CI) were calculated. Results Twenty-seven studies involving 1494 patients were included in the analysis. Patients treated with high intra-operative doses of opioid reported higher postoperative pain intensity than the reference groups (MD: 9.4 cm; 95% CI: 4.4, 14.5) at 1 h, (MD: 7.1 cm; 95% CI: 2.8, 11.3) at 4 h, and (MD: 3 cm; 95% CI: 0.4, 5.6) at 24 h on a 100 cm visual analogue scale. They also showed higher postoperative morphine use after 24 h (SMD: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.37, 1.02). There was no difference in the incidences of nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. These results were mainly associated with the use of remifentanil. The impact of other opioids is less clear because of limited data. Discussion This review suggests that high intra-operative doses of remifentanil are associated with small but significant increases in acute pain after surgery.

Retrospective observational comparative study of Hemilaminectomy versus Laminectomy for intraspinal tumour resection; Shorter Stays, Lower Analgesic Usage and Less Kyphotic Deformity

Introduction. Intraspinal tumours are rare and principally managed surgically. Laminectomy, employed for access to the spinal canal, destroys the posterior tension band leading to a risk of kyphosis. Hemilaminectomy as an alternative may be less destructive, potentially reducing the risk of deformity and causing less post-operative pain. Method. We investigated this hypothesis by retrospectively reviewing a case series of 56 surgeries for a disparate and unselected group of intraspinal tumours utilizing a laminectomy or hemilaminectomy approach. Results. No difference was found in length of operation, completeness of resection, complication rate and Frankel-score improvements. Hemilaminectomy (n = 22) is associated with reduced hospital stay (post-op days) 4.5 (2–6) versus 6 (3–8), (p = 0.026, Mann–Whitney), and a reduction in post-operative morphine use (mg) 10 (3.5–28) versus 30 (10–90), (p = 0.005, Mann–Whitney).Post-operative kyphosis was measured with the Harrison posterior tangent method on T2-weighted sagittal MR images. The average change in kyphosis angle was greater in the laminectomy group compared with the hemilaminectomy group, 3.6 (0.8–6.2) versus 0.4 (-0.2–1.2), statistically significant (p = 0.004, Mann–Whitney). Conclusion. Hemilaminectomy is as effective an access procedure for the resection of unselected intraspinal tumours as laminectomy, but is associated with shorter post-operative stays, lower analgesic requirements and less post-operative kyphosis.

Risk factors for delayed inpatient functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose. To determine the predictive value of surgery-related variables for delayed inpatient functional recovery (i.e., ≥3 days to reach functional independence) after TKA. Method. 193 consecutive people undergoing TKA were included in this prospective cohort study. Inpatient functional recovery was measured daily using the Iowa Level of Assistance scale (ILAS). Two persons reviewed medical records to extract patient characteristics (i.e., age, sex, and BMI) and surgical factors (i.e., blood loss, tourniquet time, postoperative morphine use, and surgical experience). Odds ratios (OR) and area under the curves (AUC) were calculated to determine the predictive value of the putative factors and of the model on delayed functional recovery, respectively. Results. Delayed functional recovery was apparent in 76 (39%) people. Higher age, female sex, and higher BMI were all independent risk factors for delayed functional recovery (AUC (95%-CI); 0.72 (0.65–0.80)), whereas blood loss (OR (95%-CI); 1.00 (0.99–1.01)), tourniquet time (OR = 1.00 (0.98–1.02)), and postoperative morphine use (OR = 0.88 (0.37–2.06)) did not statistically improve the predictive value of the model, while surgical experience did (OR = 0.31 (0.16–0.64); AUC = 0.76 (0.69–83)). Conclusions. Surgery-related factors contribute little to the patient-related characteristics in a predictive model explaining delayed functional recovery after TKA in daily orthopaedic practice.

Perioperative outcomes in minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery: A systematic review.

To compare minimally invasive (MIS) and open techniques for MIS lumbar laminectomy, direct lateral and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgeries with respect to length of surgery, estimated blood loss (EBL), neurologic complications, perioperative transfusion, postoperative pain, postoperative narcotic use, and length of stay (LOS). A systematic review of previously published studies accessible through PubMed was performed. Only articles in English journals or published with English language translations were included. Level of evidence of the selected articles was assessed. Statistical data was calculated with analysis of variance with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. A total of 11 pertinent laminectomy studies, 20 direct lateral studies, and 27 TLIF studies were found. For laminectomy, MIS techniques resulted in a significantly longer length of surgery (177.5 min vs 129.0 min, P = 0.04), shorter LOS (4.3 d vs 5.3 d, P = 0.01) and less perioperative pain (visual analog scale: 16 ± 17 vs 34 ± 31, P = 0.04). There is evidence of decreased narcotic use for MIS patients (postoperative intravenous morphine use: 9.3 mg vs 42.8 mg), however this difference is of unknown significance. Direct lateral approaches have insufficient comparative data to establish relative perioperative outcomes. MIS TLIF had superior EBL (352 mL vs 580 mL, P < 0.0001) and LOS (7.7 d vs 10.4 d, P < 0.0001) and limited data to suggest lower perioperative pain. Based on perioperative outcomes data, MIS approach is superior to open approach for TLIF. For laminectomy, MIS and open approaches can be chosen based on surgeon preference. For lateral approaches, there is insufficient evidence to find non-inferior perioperative outcomes at this time.

Effect of local wound infiltration and transversus abdominis plane block on morphine use after laparoscopic colectomy: a nonrandomized, single-blind prospective study

BackgroundRecently, nonopioid-based treatment modalities have been used to improve analgesia and decrease opioid-related side effects after surgery. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and local infiltration of the surgical wound are commonly used multimodal analgesia techniques after abdominal surgery; however, few studies have compared the effectiveness of a TAP block with that of local infiltration of surgical wounds in patients who have undergone laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Materials and methodsSixty patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery participated in this prospective comparative study. All patients were allocated to 1 of 2 groups as follows: the TAP group or the infiltration group. Patients in the TAP group received bilateral TAP blocks at the end of the surgery. Patients in the infiltration group received local infiltration of anesthetics in the surgical wounds after closure of the peritoneum. All patients received postoperative analgesia with morphine as a patient-controlled analgesia. Opioid consumption and pain scores were recorded at 2, 6, 24, and 48 h after the operation. ResultsThe characteristics of patients in the TAP group (n = 30) and local infiltration group (n = 29) were comparable. Pain scores while coughing and at rest were not different between the two groups. Postoperative morphine use was significantly reduced in the TAP group compared with that in the local infiltration group at 2–6 h (2.9 ± 1.9 mg versus 4.5 ± 3.2 mg, P = 0.02), 6–24 h (5.5 ± 3.3 mg versus 10.2 ± 8.4 mg, P = 0.00), the first 24 h (16.6 ± 6.6 mg versus 24.0 ± 9.7 mg), and 48 h (23.6 ± 8.2 mg versus 31.8 ± 12.5 mg, P = 0.00). No differences in rescue analgesic use or side effects were noted between the groups. ConclusionsCompared with local anesthetic infiltration, bilateral TAP blocks decreased the cumulative morphine use at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively in patients who had undergone laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

A randomized-clinical trial examining a neoprene abdominal binder in gynecologic surgery patients

Pain control and early ambulation are two important postoperative goals. Strategies that decrease morphine use while increasing ambulation have the potential to decrease postoperative complications. In this study the authors sought to determine the effect of an abdominopelvic binder on postoperative morphine use, pain, and ambulation in the first day after surgery. The authors randomly assigned 75 patients undergoing abdominal gynecologic surgery to either binder or not after surgery. Demographic data and surgical characteristics were collected. Outcome variables included morphine use, pain score, time to ambulation, and number of ambulations. A group at high risk for decreased mobility was identified and the binder increased the number of ambulatory events by 300%, 260%, and 240% in patients with vertical incisions, age over 50 years, and complex surgeries, respectively. Morphine use and pain scores were not significantly different. The binder increased ambulations in the subset of patients at the highest risk for postoperative complications: elderly, cancer patients, and vertical incisions. Routine use of the binder may benefit particularly high-risk gynecologic surgical patients.

Constipation after thoraco-lumbar fusion surgery

BackgroundThoraco-lumbar posterior fusion surgery is a frequent procedure used for patients with spinal instability due to tumor, trauma or degenerative disease. In the perioperative phase, many patients may experience vomiting, bowel irritation, constipation, or may even show symptoms of adynamic ileus possibly due to immobilization and high doses of opioid analgesics and narcotics administered during and after surgery. MethodsRetrospective single-center study on patients undergoing thoraco-lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative lumbar spine disease with instability in 2012. Study groups were built according to presence/absence of postoperative constipation, with postoperative constipation being defined as no bowel movement on postoperative days 0–2. ResultsNinety-nine patients (39 males, 60 females) with a mean age of 57.1±17.3 years were analyzed, of which 44 patients with similar age, gender, BMI and ASA-grades showed constipation (44.4%). Occurrence of constipation was associated with longer mean operation times (247±62 vs. 214±71min; p=0.012), higher estimated blood loss (545±316 vs. 375±332ml; p<0.001), and higher mean morphine dosages in the postoperative days 0–7 (the difference being significant on postoperative days 1 (48mg vs. 30.9mg, p=0.041) and 2 (43.2mg vs. 29.1mg, p=0.028). The equivalence dose of morphine administered during surgery was similar (339±196 vs. 285±144mg; p=0.286). The use of laxatives in the postoperative days 0–7 was generally high in both study groups, while it was more frequent in patients experiencing constipation. One patient with constipation developed a sonographically confirmed paralytic ileus. Patients with constipation showed a tendency toward longer postoperative hospitalization (7.6 vs. 6.7 days, p=0.136). ConclusionsThe rate of constipation was high after thoraco-lumbar fusion surgery. Moreover, it was associated with longer surgery time, higher blood loss, and higher postoperative morphine doses. Further trials are needed to prove if the introduction of faster and less invasive surgery techniques may have a positive side effect on bowel movement after spine surgery as they may reduce operation times, blood loss and postoperative morphine use.

Fast Left Prefrontal rTMS Reduces Post-Gastric Bypass Surgery Pain: Findings From a Large-Scale, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial

BackgroundA single session of left prefrontal rTMS has been shown to have analgesic effects, and to reduce post-operative morphine use. We sought to test these findings in a larger sample, and try and see if multiple sessions had additive analgesic benefit. Methods108 patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery received two sessions of 10 Hz rTMS (110% of motor threshold) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (one immediately following surgery and one 4 h later). Participants were randomly assigned to receive 2 sessions of real rTMS, 2 sessions of sham, 1 real then 1 sham, or 1 sham then 1 real rTMS treatments. Patients and study staff were blind to rTMS conditions. ResultsUnlike previous rTMS trials for post-operative pain, no differences emerged between groups with respect to total patient-controlled analgesia usage (IV hydromorphone). However, despite no difference in IV analgesic usage, subjects that received 2 real rTMS sessions rated both the affective and sensory dimensions of their pain significantly lower than those in the sham–sham group at several time points during the post-surgical/post-rTMS period. ConclusionsThis study suggests that left prefrontal rTMS may produce significant analgesic effects in the perioperative setting. However, further work is needed to understand this effect and attempt to make it clinically useful in light of the lack of effect on PCA hydromorphone use.

P02.128. The effects of guided imagery on preoperative anxiety and pain management in patients undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in a multi-centre RCT study

PurposeLaparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) is common practicein treatment of symptomatic gall stones. LC is often associatedwith preoperative anxiety and stress which maynegatively impact postoperative pain perception andrecovery from surgery. The aim of the present study wasto investigate whether a “non-pharmacological” interventionwith guided imagery can reduce preoperative anxiety,postoperative pain perception and medication comparedto standard care in patients undergoing LC.MethodsIn a pragmatic multi-centre randomized controlled study140 patients were randomized to a Guided Imagery (GI)group or control group. The GI group was provided witha CD to practice guided imagery once a day, 7 days priorto surgery. Patients in the control group received standardcare instructions only. Primary outcome measurement wasthe use of postoperative analgesics. Secondary outcomeparameters were preoperative anxiety levels using theAmsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale(APAIS), postoperative pain perception (VAS-scale), generalpatient satisfaction (PSQ) and safety (adverse events)with treatment.Results95 out of 140 randomized patients completed the study,43 in the GI and 52 in the control group. The major reasonsfor dropping out were acute LCs or cancellation ofLC. Both groups were highly comparable with respect todemographic data. The majority was female (GI: 77%,Control: 75%). Postoperative morphine use was not significantlydifferent between the GI (15.8±18.5 mg) andcontrol group (12.5±13.6 mg, p=0.34). No significant differenceswere observed in anxiety and postoperative VASscores. Twenty-three percent of patients did exercises1-3 times, 65% 4-7 times and 12% >7 times. Within GIgroup analysis showed significantly less postoperativemorphine use upon better compliance to GI exercises(p=0.02).ConclusionIt is not as simple as replacing a pill with a CD. GuidedImagery seems to reduce postoperative pain medicationonce compliance to imagery exercises is achieved.

Continuous Infusion of Bupivacaine Reduces Postoperative Morphine Use in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis After Posterior Spine Fusion

Retrospective analysis. To determine if an infusion of bupivacaine will reduce the need for intravenous opioids following posterior spine fusion. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is estimated to occur with a frequency of 1% to 3% among the at-risk age group of 10 to 18 years. A small percentage of these patients will require surgical intervention. Data are limited regarding continuous infusion of local anesthetic after posterior spine fusion for pain control. METHODS.: Retrospective review of children 10 to 18 years with idiopathic scoliosis admitted to a tertiary care, 20-bed pediatric intensive care unit (P pediatric intensive care unit), following posterior spine fusion. The primary outcome was postoperative opioid use stratified by the presence of a catheter for continuous bupivacaine. Secondary outcomes included pain scores, side effect management, depth of catheter placement, and fluid resuscitation. Two hundred and forty-four children were eligible, 129 received a catheter for continuous bupivacaine, 115 did not. There were no differences in demographics. Significantly fewer patients receiving bupivacaine required a continuous basal infusion of morphine (32.6% vs. 85.2%, P < 0.001) resulting in an overall reduction opioid use on postoperative day 1 (18.9 vs. 26.4 mg, P < 0.001). Overall, pain scores were low in both groups. Limiting the analysis to only those with a bupivacaine catheter, the depth of catheter placement did not impact postoperative opioid use (P > 0.15). The use of a continuous infusion of bupivacaine provided good analgesia with low pain scores. The significant reduction in basal morphine use may reflect a replacement by bupivacaine, although this is limited by potential treatment bias. Multivariate analysis was required to control for ongoing changes in anesthesia practice over the many years of the study. The optimal depth of catheter placement is unclear from this analysis and should be studied prospectively.

Gasless Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy for Early Gastric Cancer: Analysis of Initial Results

Laproscopic surgery is widely used in treating gastrointestinal disease. This study investigated the clinical result, short-term outcomes, and cost analysis of the newly developed gasless laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (GLADG) and compared it with conventional open distal gastrectomy (ODG). Seventy-five patients underwent distal gastrectomy with radical lymph node dissection for early gastric cancer from December 2005 to January 2008. Thirty-one patients underwent GLADG and 44 underwent ODG. Postoperative pain, morphine use, disease-free and overall survival, and surgical and hospital costs were measured postoperatively and compared between the two groups. Patients in the two groups were comparable by age, sex, body mass index, tumor size, tumor location, cancer staging, and operative time. The GLADG group had early start of oral intake and shorter postoperative hospital stay (P < .05). There was less morphine use from postoperative day 1 to 4 in the GLADG group than in the ODG group (P < .05), and body temperature from postoperative day 1 to 2 was lower in the GLADG than in the ODG group (P < .05). Cost analysis showed that operation cost (100,242 ± 5385 versus 36,455 ± 1419) and equipment cost (65,909 ± 5385 versus 2122 ± 1419) was higher in the GLADG group, but its total hospital cost (193,552 ± 12,715 versus 206,676 ± 41,920) was lower than in the ODG group (P < .05). The 2-year disease-free and overall survival rates were not different between the two groups. GLADG is feasible for early gastric cancer. It is advantageous because of less pain, less postoperative inflammatory response, less blood loss, and shorter total hospital stay while achieving the same oncologic results as ODG.

A Randomised Controlled Trial of Hyperbaric Bupivacaine with Opioids, Injected as Either a Mixture or Sequentially, for Spinal Anaesthesia for Caesarean Section

It is common practice to mix opioids with hyperbaric bupivacaine in a single syringe before intrathecal injection of the mixture. Mixing these drugs may alter the density of the hyperbaric solution, affecting the spread of local anaesthetic and opioid. Forty-eight women having elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were recruited to this double-blind, randomised trial. Group M (n=24) received 2 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine plus morphine 100 microg plus fentanyl 15 microg, mixed in a syringe prior to administration. Group S (n=24) received 2 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine through one syringe, followed by morphine 100 microg plus fentanyl 15 microg through a separate syringe. All patients received patient-controlled intravenous morphine for 24 hours postoperatively. Block characteristics, postoperative pain scores and morphine use were noted. The patients in Group M had higher levels of sensory block to cold than those in Group S (median T2 vs. T3) (P = 0.003). Five patients in Group M and none in Group S had a block to cold > or = T1 (P = 0.02). There was no difference between groups in the incidence of hypotension, need for vasopressor or side-effects. Morphine consumption was significantly higher in group M (13.3 +/- 11.2 vs. 6.2 +/- 7.2 mg, P = 0.015). Mixing of fentanyl and morphine with hyperbaric bupivacaine results in a higher level of sensory block than sequential administration of bupivacaine then opioid and may be associated with higher postoperative opioid requirement.