Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation with Nuss Procedure: Impact on Opioid Use, Length of Stay, Hospital Cost, and Postoperative Complications

Background Recent guidelines for perioperative care in cardiac surgery recommend multimodal pain management to decrease opioid use. We evaluated the effect of multimodal pain management including parasternal intercostal nerve block on pain control and opioid use in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) requiring sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. Study Design Medical records of consecutive patients who underwent CABG from 2018 to 2019 at Huntington Hospital were retrospectively queried. Patients were divided in 2 groups based on whether an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pain management protocol including parasternal intercostal nerve blocks was employed. Outcomes, including length of stay, pain scores, and opioid use, were compared. Results There was no difference in length of stay (days) 5.43 vs. 5.38 ( P = .45 and average pain score 2.23 vs. 3.27 ( P = .137) for patients in the ERAS and non-ERAS groups. Maximum pain score, 7.74 to 6.15 ( P = .015), and opioid use (total morphine mg equivalent), 149.64 to 32.01 ( P < .01), were reduced in the ERAS group. Conclusion The ERAS multimodal pain management protocol utilizing intraoperative parasternal blocks appears to reduce pain and decrease opioid use after CABG.

Download Full-text

Comparison of Regional Anesthesia Timing on Pain, Opioid Use, and Postanesthesia Care Unit Length of Stay in Patients Undergoing Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Ankle Fractures

The Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery ◽

10.1053/j.jfas.2019.05.012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 788-791

Author(s):

John C. Alexander ◽

Mary Sunna ◽

Abu Minhajuddin ◽

George Liu ◽

Drew Sanders ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Internal Fixation ◽

Regional Anesthesia ◽

Open Reduction ◽

Unit Length ◽

Ankle Fractures ◽

Postanesthesia Care Unit ◽

Opioid Use

Download Full-text

Preoperative Fluoroscopically Guided Regional Erector Spinae Plane Blocks Reduce Opioid Use, Increase Mobilization, and Reduce Length of Stay Following Lumbar Spine Fusion

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1177/21925682211010740 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 219256822110107

Author(s):

Robert J. Owen ◽

Noah Quinlan ◽

Addisyn Poduska ◽

William Ryan Spiker ◽

Nicholas T. Spina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lumbar Spine ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Lumbar Fusion ◽

Spine Fusion ◽

Erector Spinae ◽

Control Group ◽

Block Group ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Lumbar Spine Fusion ◽

Delivery Technique

Study Design: Retrospective review. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks at improving perioperative pain control and function following lumbar spine fusions. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing < 3 level posterolateral lumbar fusions. Data was stratified into a control group and a block group. We collected postop MED (morphine equivalent dosages), physical therapy ambulation, and length of stay. PROMIS pain interference (PI) and physical function (PF) scores, ODI, and VAS were collected preop and at the first postop visit. Chi-square and student’s t-test ( P = .05) were used for analysis. We also validated a novel fluoroscopic technique for ESP block delivery. Results: There were 37 in the block group and 39 in the control group. There was no difference in preoperative opioid use ( P = .22). On postop day 1, MED was reduced in the block group (32 vs 51, P < .05), and more patients in the block group did not utilize any opioids (22% vs 5%, P < .05). The block group ambulated further on postop day 1 (312 ft vs 204 ft, P < .05), and had reduced length of stay (2.4 vs 3.2 days, P < .05). The block group showed better PROMIS PI scores postoperatively (58 vs 63, P < .05). The novel delivery technique was validated and successful in targeting the correct level and plane. Conclusions: ESP blocks significantly reduced postop opioid use following lumbar fusion. Block patients ambulated further with PT, had reduced length of stay, and had improved PROMIS PI postoperatively. Validation of the block demonstrated the effectiveness of a novel fluoroscopic delivery technique. ESP blocks represent an underutilized method of reducing opioid consumption, improving postoperative mobilization and reducing length of stay following lumbar spine fusion.

Download Full-text

Early Outcomes After Surgical Management of Geriatric Patella Fractures

Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation ◽

10.1177/2151459320987699 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215145932098769

Author(s):

Jaclyn Kapilow ◽

Junho Ahn ◽

Kathryn Gallaway ◽

Megan Sorich

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Postoperative Complications ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Geriatric Patients ◽

The United States ◽

Unplanned Readmission ◽

Patella Fracture ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Prolonged Hospitalization ◽

Patella Fractures

Objectives: To report the incidence and risk factors for prolonged hospitalization, discharge to a facility, and postoperative complications in geriatric patients who underwent surgery for patella fracture. Design: Retrospective database review. Setting: The American College of Surgeons—National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) collects data from 600 hospitals across the United States. Patients/Participants: NSQIP patients over 65 years of age with patella fractures. Intervention: Surgical fixation of patella fracture including extensor mechanism repair. Main Outcome Measurements: Prolonged hospitalization, discharge to a facility, and 30-day post-operative complications. Results: 1721 patients were included in the study. The average age was 74.9 years. 358 (20.8%) patients were male. 122 (7.1%) patients had a length of stay greater than 7 days. Factors associated with prolonged length of stay include pre-existing renal failure, need for emergent surgery, and time to surgery greater than 24 hours from admission. 640 patients (37.2%) of patients were discharged to a facility after surgery. Discharge to facility was associated with age >77 years, obesity, anemia, thrombocytopenia, pre-operative SIRS, and CCI > 0.5. Admission from home decreased the odds of discharge to a facility. The most common postoperative complications in this population were unplanned readmission (3.4%), unplanned reoperation (2.7%), surgical site infection (1.1%), mortality (1.0%), venous thromboembolism (0.8%), and wound dehiscence (0.2%). Complication rates increased with anemia and ASA class IV-V. Conclusions: Geriatric patients undergoing operative intervention for patella fractures are at high risk for prolonged hospitalization, discharge to facility, unplanned readmission or reoperation, and surgical site complications in the first 30 days following surgery. This study highlights modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors associated with adverse events. Early recognition of these factors can allow for close monitoring and multidisciplinary intervention in the perioperative period to improve outcomes. Level of Evidence: Prognostic level III.

Download Full-text