Implementation of a Standardized Perioperative Pain Management Protocol to Reduce Opioid Prescriptions in Otolaryngologic Surgery

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of implementing a standardized multimodal perioperative pain management protocol in reducing opioid prescriptions following otolaryngologic surgery. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting County hospital otolaryngology practice. Methods A perioperative pain management protocol was implemented in adults undergoing otolaryngologic surgery. This protocol included preoperative patient education and a postoperative multimodal pain regimen stratified by pain level: mild, intermediate, and high. Opioid prescriptions were compared between patient cohorts before and after protocol implementation. Patients in the pain protocol were surveyed regarding pain levels and opioid use. Results We analyzed 210 patients (105 preprotocol and 105 postprotocol). Mean ± SD morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) prescribed decreased from 132.5 ± 117.8 to 53.6 ± 63.9 ( P < .05) following protocol implementation. Mean MMEs prescribed significantly decreased ( P < .05) for each procedure pain tier: mild (107.4 to 40.5), intermediate (112.8 to 48.1), and high (240.4 to 105.0). Mean MMEs prescribed significantly decreased ( P < .05) for each procedure type: endocrine (105.6 to 44.4), facial plastics (225.0 to 50.0), general (160.9 to 105.7), head and neck oncology (138.6 to 77.1), laryngology (53.8 to 12.5), otology (77.5 to 42.9), rhinology (142.2 to 44.4), and trauma (288.0 to 24.5). Protocol patients reported a mean 1-week postoperative pain score of 3.4, used opioids for a mean 3.1 days, and used only 39% of their prescribed opioids. Conclusion Preoperative counseling and standardization of a multimodal perioperative pain regimen for otolaryngology procedures can effectively lower amount of opioid prescriptions while maintaining low levels of postoperative pain.

Factors affecting sufentanil consumption for intravenous controlled analgesia after hepatectomy: retrospective analysis

Background Pain control after hepatectomy is usually achieved by opioids. There are significant individual differences in the amount of opioids used after hepatectomy, and the metabolism of opioids is liver-dependent. The purpose of our study was to explore the possible risk factors for opioid consumption during the first 48 h after surgery. Methods In a retrospective study design involving 562 patients undergoing open or laparoscopic hepatectomy, all patients were treated with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) along with continuous and bolus doses of sufentanil for a duration of 48 h after surgery during the time period of August 2015 and February 2019. The primary endpoint was high sufentanil consumption 48 h after hepatectomy, and patients were divided into two groups: those with or without a high PCA sufentanil dosage depending on the third quartile (Q3). The secondary endpoint was the effect of a high PCA sufentanil dosage on various possible clinical risk factors. The relevant parameters were collected, and correlation and multivariate regression analyses were performed. Results The median operation time was 185 min (range, 115–250 min), and the median consumption of sufentanil 48 h after the operation was 91 μg (IQR, 64.00, 133.00). Factors related to the consumption of sufentanil at 48 h after hepatectomy included age, operation time, blood loss, intraoperative infusion (red blood cells and fresh-frozen plasma), pain during movement after surgery (day 1 and day 2), preoperative albumin, and postoperative blood urea nitrogen. Age (≤ 60 and > 60 years), extent of resection (minor hepatic resection and major hepatic resection), surgical approach (laparoscope and open) and operation time (min) were independent risk factors for sufentanil consumption at 48 h postoperatively. Conclusion Age younger than 60 years, major hepatic resection, an open approach and a longer operation are factors more likely to cause patients to require higher doses of sufentanil after hepatectomy, and the early identification of such patients can increase the efficacy of perioperative pain management.

PATIENT-CENTERED ANALGESIA OF THE ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL WALL IN CHILDREN OF DIFFERENT AGES: OWN EXPERIENCE

Introduction. Regional anesthesia in pediatric practice is one of the most valuable and safest tools for perioperative pain management. The advantages of regional anesthesia are early recovery of children, reducing opioid consumption, postoperative pain, respiratory complications, nausea, vomiting, as well as health care costs. The aim of the study was to analyze the data on the effect of the quadratus lumborum block and the transversalis fascia block on the duration and effectiveness of postoperative analgesia and propose a model of combining two blocks with a single injection. Materials and methods. Today there is growing interest in the use of new methods of regional anesthesia, especially the anterior and posterior torso blocks. The quadratus lumborum block and the transversalis fascia block are aimed at providing analgesia over the T7-L1 dermatomes, namely the ilio-inguinal and iliac nerves, which extend from the lateral portion of the psoas major, the lower edge of the 12th rib; however, there is evidence of cranial spread to the T4 – T5 dermatomes, and caudal spread to the L2 – L3 dermatomes. Currently, there are enough publications concerning the quadratus lumborum block and the transversalis fascia block. Results. For adequate perioperative multimodal anesthesia, the authors proposed a combination of the transversalis fascia block and the quadratus lumborum block with a single injection and ultrasound guidance. Conclusions. The advantages of the proposed method include simplicity, less invasiveness, adequate analgesia during surgery, as well as during the postoperative period (exclusion of somatic and visceral components), as evidenced by the assessment on a visual analogue scale (no more than two points). In addition, it significantly reduces the perioperative opioid use.