Opiate Use After Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery

Background The literature on opiate use after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS) is limited. Objective To determine the risk factors for higher opiate use following EETS and the quantity of opiates used after discharge. Methods A retrospective review of 144 patients undergoing EETS from July 2018 to July 2020 was conducted. Patient, tumor, and surgical factors were documented. Pain scores and medications used on postoperative days (POD) 0 and 1, and discharge prescriptions, were recorded. Opiate use was quantified using morphine milligram equivalents (MME) dose. Multiple linear regression determined risk factors independently associated with POD0 to 1 opiate use. Results On POD 0 to 1, mean pain score was 4.9/10 (standard deviation [SD] ± 2.0). Mean acetaminophen use was 3.4 tablets (SD ± 1.6; 650 mg per tablet). Mean opiate use was 35.6 MME (SD ± 36.3), equivalent to 4.7 tablets (SD ± 4.8) of oxycodone 5 mg. Multiple linear regression showed that current smokers required an additional 37.1 MME ( P = .011), and patients with grade 3 intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks required an additional 36.7 MME ( P = .046) on POD0 to 1. On discharge, mean opiate prescription was 117.7 MME (SD ± 102.1), equivalent to 15.7 tablets (SD ± 13.6) of oxycodone 5 mg. Thirty-nine patients (27.1%) did not require prescriptions. Only 10 patients (6.9%) required opiate refill(s) within 30 days after surgery. Conclusion Patients undergoing EETS have higher opiate needs compared to those undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery, although the overall requirements are still considered low. Independent risk factors associated with higher opiate use in the immediate postoperative period included current smokers and grade 3 intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

Successful treatment of pituitary gigantism

Pituitary gigantism is extremely rare, resulting from excessive secretion of growth hormone (GH) before fusion of epiphysial growth plates. We report a case of a 13-year-old boy, who presented with increased statural growth and headaches since the age of 10 years. On physical examination, his height was 180.7 cm (+3.3 SD) and Tanner stage V. Investigation revealed increased levels of serum age-adjusted and sex-adjusted insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and failure of GH suppression during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). MRI of the sellar region revealed a pituitary macroadenoma. He underwent transsphenoidal surgery and histopathological evaluation revealed mammosomatotropic adenoma. Three months after surgery, IGF-1 normalised, nadir GH during OGTT was less than 1 ng/mL and no residual tumour was found on the MRI. Genetic testing identified a mutation in the AIP gene. This case emphasises the importance of early diagnosis of gigantism, as treatment delay increases long-term morbidity.

Predictive factors for delayed hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery in patients with pituitary adenomas

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and duration of delayed hyponatremia and to assess the factors influencing the development of delayed hyponatremia after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) in pituitary adenomas. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with pituitary adenoma who underwent TSS. Univariable and multivariable statistics were carried out to identify factors independently associated with the occurrence of delayed hyponatremia. Results: Of the 285 patients with pituitary adenoma who underwent microscopic TSS, 44 (15.4%) developed postoperative delayed hyponatremia and 241 (84.6%) did not. The onset of delayed hyponatremia occurred an average of 5.84 days post-surgery and persisted for an average of 5.36 days. Logistic regression analysis showed the highest risk of delayed hyponatremia in patients with significant change in tumor cavity height (odds ratio [OR], 1.158; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.062, 1.262; P = 0.001), preoperative hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis hypofunction(OR, 3.112; 95% CI, 1.481, 6.539; P = 0.003), and significant difference in blood sodium levels before and 2 days after TSS(OR, 1.101; 95% CI, 1.005, 1.206; P = 0.039). Conclusions: Preoperative hypothyroidism, difference in blood sodium levels before and 2 days after TSS, and the change in tumor cavity height after TSS played important roles in predicting postoperative delayed hyponatremia onset in patients with pituitary adenomas.

Effects of a transsphenoidal surgery quality improvement program on patient outcomes and hospital financial performance

OBJECTIVE A comprehensive quality improvement (QI) program aimed at all aspects of patient care after pituitary surgery was initiated at a single center. This initiative was guided by standard quality principles to improve patient outcomes and optimize healthcare value. The programmatic goal was to discharge most elective patients within 1 day after surgery, improve patient safety, and limit unplanned readmissions. The program is described, and its effect on patient outcomes and hospital financial performance over a 5-year period are investigated. METHODS Details of the patient care pathway are presented. Foundational elements of the QI program include evidence-based care pathways (e.g., for hyponatremia and pain), an in-house research program designed to fortify care pathways, patient education, expectation setting, multidisciplinary team care, standard order sets, high-touch postdischarge care, outcomes auditing, and a patient navigator, among other elements. Length of stay (LOS), outcome variability, 30-day unplanned readmissions, and hospital financial performance were identified as surrogate endpoints for healthcare value for the surgical epoch. To assess the effect of these protocols, all patients undergoing elective transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors and Rathke’s cleft cysts between January 2015 and December 2019 were reviewed. RESULTS A total of 609 adult patients who underwent elective surgery by experienced pituitary surgeons were identified. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and payer mix did not change significantly over the study period (p ≥ 0.10). The mean LOS was significantly shorter in 2019 versus 2015 (1.6 ± 1.0 vs 2.9 ± 2.2 midnights, p < 0.001). The percentage of patients discharged after 1 midnight was significantly higher in 2019 versus 2015 (75.4% vs 15.6%, p < 0.001). The 30-day unplanned hospital readmission rate decreased to 2.8% in 2019 from 8.3% in 2015. Per-patient hospital profit increased 71.3% ($10,613 ± $19,321 in 2015; $18,180 ± $21,930 in 2019), and the contribution margin increased 42.3% ($18,925 ± $19,236 in 2015; $26,939 ± $22,057 in 2019), while costs increased by only 3.4% ($18,829 ± $6611 in 2015; $19,469 ± $4291 in 2019). CONCLUSIONS After implementation of a comprehensive pituitary surgery QI program, patient outcomes significantly improved, outcome variability decreased, and hospital financial performance was enhanced. Future studies designed to evaluate disease remission, patient satisfaction, and how the surgeon learning curve may synergize with other quality efforts may provide additional context.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs versus tramadol in pain management following transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas: a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial

OBJECTIVE Opioid-minimizing or nonopioid therapy using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or tramadol has been encouraged for pain management. This study aimed to examine the noninferiority of NSAIDs to tramadol for pain management following transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas in terms of analgesic efficacy, adverse events, and rescue opioid use. METHODS This was a randomized, single-center, double-blind noninferiority trial. Patients 18–70 years old with planned transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas were randomly assigned (in a 1-to-1 ratio) to receive NSAIDs (parecoxib injection and subsequent loxoprofen tablets) or tramadol (tramadol injection and subsequent tramadol tablets). The primary outcome was pain score assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS) for 24 hours following surgery; the secondary outcomes were VAS scores for 48 and 72 hours. Other prespecified outcomes included nausea, vomiting, dizziness, upset stomach, skin rash, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, and pethidine use to control breakthrough pain. Noninferiority of NSAIDs to tramadol was established if the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the VAS score difference was < 1 point and the rate difference of adverse events and pethidine use < 5%. The superiority of NSAIDs was assessed when noninferiority was verified. All analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS Two hundred two patients were enrolled between November 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021 (101 in the NSAIDs group, 101 in the tramadol group). Baseline characteristics between groups were well balanced. Mean VAS scores for 24 hours following transsphenoidal surgery were 2.6 ± 1.8 in the NSAIDs group and 3.5 ± 2.1 in the tramadol group (−0.9 difference, 95% CI −1.5 to −0.4; p value for noninferiority < 0.001, p value for superiority < 0.001). Noninferiority and superiority were also achieved for both secondary outcomes. VAS scores improved over time in both groups. Incidences of nausea (39.6% vs 61.4%, p = 0.002), vomiting (3.0% vs 42.6%, p < 0.001), and dizziness (12.9% vs 47.5%, p < 0.001) were significantly lower, while incidence of upset stomach (9.9% vs 2.0%, p = 0.017) was slightly higher in the NSAIDs group compared with the tramadol group. The percentage of opioid use was 4.0% in the NSAIDs group and 15.8% in the tramadol group (−11.8% difference, 95% CI −19.9% to −3.7%; p value for noninferiority < 0.001, p value for superiority = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS NSAIDs significantly reduced acute pain following transsphenoidal surgery, caused few adverse events, and limited opioid use compared with tramadol.

Risk factors for postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Objective Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage represents a challenge even for experienced pituitary surgeons. We aimed to quantitatively synthesize data from studies regarding the risk factors for postoperative CSF leakage after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for pituitary adenoma (PA). Methods PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, and VIP database were searched for case–control and cohort studies, focusing on the risk factors associated with postoperative CSF leakage after TSS for PA. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine the risk factors. Results A total of 34 case–control and cohort studies involving a total of 9,144 patients with PA were included in this systematic review. The overall rate of postoperative CSF leakage after TSS for PA was 5.6%. Tumor size, adenoma consistency, revision surgery, and intraoperative CSF leakage were independent risk factors for postoperative CSF leakage (ORs, 3.18–6.33). By contrast, the endoscopic approach showed a slight protective benefit compared with the microscopic approach in TSS (OR, 0.69). Conclusions This review provides a comprehensive overview of the quality of the evidence base, informing clinical staff of the importance of screening risk factors for postoperative CSF leakage after TSS for PA. More attention should be paid to PA patients at high risk for CSF leakage after TSS to reduce complications and improve prognosis.