Significant reduction of postoperative pain and opioid analgesics requirement with an Enhanced Recovery After Thoracic Surgery protocol

ObjectiveTo evaluate differences in postoperative pain control and opioids requirement in thoracic surgical patients following implementation of an Enhanced Recovery after Thoracic Surgery protocol with a comprehensive postoperative pain management strategy.Material and MethodsA retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing pulmonary resections by robotic thoracoscopy or thoracotomy from January 1, 2017, to January 31, 2019, was conducted. Multimodal pain management strategy (opioid-sparing analgesics, infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine to intercostal spaces and surgical sites, and elimination of thoracic epidural analgesia use in thoracotomy patients) was implemented as part of Enhanced Recovery after Thoracic Surgery on February 1, 2018. Outcome metrics including patient-reported pain levels, in-hospital and postdischarge opioids use, postoperative complications, and length of stay were compared before and after protocol implementation.ResultsIn total, 310 robotic thoracoscopy and 62 thoracotomy patients met the inclusion criteria. This pain management strategy was associated with significant reduction of postoperative pain in both groups with an overall reduction of postoperative opioids requirement. Median in-hospital opioids use (morphine milligram equivalent per day) was reduced from 30 to 18.36 (P = .009) for the robotic thoracoscopy group and slightly increased from 15.48 to 21.0 (P = .27) in the thoracotomy group. More importantly, median postdischarge opioids prescribed (total morphine milligram equivalent) was significantly reduced from 480.0 to 150.0 (P < .001) and 887.5 to 150.0 (P < .001) for the thoracoscopy and thoracotomy groups, respectively. Similar short-term perioperative outcomes were observed in both groups before and following protocol implementation.ConclusionsImplementation of Enhanced Recovery after Thoracic Surgery allows safe elimination of epidural use, better pain control, and less postoperative opioids use, especially a drastic reduction of postdischarge opioid need, without adversely affecting outcomes.     

Efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine versus bupivacaine in port site injections on postoperative pain within enhanced recovery after bariatric surgery program: a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundUse of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) in surgery is reported with decreased postoperative opioid requirements. The efficacy of LB versus standard bupivacaine injections at laparoscopic port sites during bariatric surgery is unknown.ObjectivesTo determine whether there was a difference in postoperative hospital opioid requirements after port site injections of LB versus standard bupivacaine during laparoscopic bariatric surgeries. Primary endpoint was total in hospital opioid use expressed as morphine-equivalent use. Secondary endpoints included home opioid use, pain scores, hospital length of stay, and adverse events.SettingAcademic-affiliated private practice.MethodsA 2-group randomized, double-blinded trial from November 2017 to August 2018 with patients randomly assigned to receive either LB or bupivacaine alone at trocar site injections during laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). All patients underwent enhanced recovery after bariatric surgery protocols.ResultsAll patients undergoing LRYGB or VSG assessed for eligibility. Of 682 patients undergoing LRYGB or VSG, 231 met inclusion criteria, 52 patients excluded intraoperatively. Among 231 patients (mean age, 39.2 years; 79% women; mean body mass index 45.0), 179 patients (77%) completed the trial. Patients randomly assigned to receive either LB (n = 89) or bupivacaine alone (n = 90) at trocar site injection during LRYGB or VSG. Postoperative morphine-equivalent use were similar (LB 8.3 [standard deviation 4.0–13.9] versus bupivacaine group 7.5 [standard deviation 3.6–13.1] P = .94) with highest requirement in first 4 hours after surgery. There was no significant difference in length of stay, pain scores, or complications. There were more patients in the bupivacaine group that did not take pain medications on postoperative days 2 to 4 (P = .032, P = .23, P = .005, respectively). There were more patients in the bupivacaine group 48.1% (n = 39) compared with the LB group 34.2% (n = 27) that did not consume any narcotic tablets at home but this not found to be statistically significant (P value = .07).ConclusionsAmong patients undergoing primary bariatric surgery under enhanced recovery after bariatric surgery protocol, there was no significant difference in postoperative hospital opioid use in those receiving LB compared with standard bupivacaine. A greater percentage of patients in the standard bupivacaine group did not require any narcotics at home, which was significant on postoperative days 2 to 4. To become completely opioid free after bariatric surgery, resources should be focused on multimodal approaches instead of reliance on type of anesthetic medication used.     

脂肪乳剂通过激活自噬流解救布比卡因心肌毒性

目的：探讨自噬在脂肪乳剂解救布比卡因心肌毒性中的作用。方法：取对数生长期的H9C2心肌细胞随机分成空白溶剂组（DMSO组）、布比卡因组（Bup组）、脂肪乳剂组（Lip组）、脂肪乳剂联用布比卡因组（BLp组）,相应药物处理24 h后,CCK8检测细胞增殖抑制率,光镜下观察细胞形态,电镜下观察细胞自噬现象,激光共聚焦显微镜下监测自噬流情况,Western blot和RT-PCR检测LC3II/I、p62蛋白和mRNA表达水平。结果：与DMSO组相比较,Bup组心肌细胞增殖抑制率明显升高（P ＜0.05）,光镜下可见细胞大量死亡皱缩,形态不规则,胞核不清,电镜下见自噬体大量堆积,激光共聚焦显微镜下见自噬流被抑制,LC3II/I、p62蛋白和mRNA表达水平均显著升高（P ＜0.05）。与Bup组相比较,BLp组与Lip组心肌细胞增殖抑制率显著下降（P ＜0.05）;光镜下心肌死亡细胞减少,细胞界限清楚,胞浆清晰,胞核清楚;电镜下自噬体减少;自噬流加快自噬体清除;LC3II/I、p62 蛋白和mRNA表达水平均显著下降（P ＜0.05）。结论：脂肪乳剂可通过激活自噬流来加快自噬体的清除从而解救布比卡因所致心肌毒性。     

Local anaesthetic agents

Local anaesthetics are weak bases and consist of a lipophilic aromatic ring, a link and a hydrophilic amine. The chemistry of the link classifies them as amides or esters. They act by blocking the sodium ionophore, especially in the activated state of the channel, and frequency dependence can be shown. The speed of onset is related to dose and proportion of drug in the unionized lipid-soluble form, which in turn is determined by the pK_a and the ambient pH. Local anaesthetic agents, being weak bases, are bound in the plasma to α1-acid glycoproteins, influencing duration of action. Esters undergo hydrolysis by esterases in the plasma. Amides are subject to phase I and II hepatic cytochrome P450 metabolism. The development of the S-enantiomers, levobupivacaine and ropivacaine, has not been without some controversy with regards to therapeutic benefits when assessed by clinical potency models such as the minimum local analgesic concentration (MLAC). Drugs derived from biological toxins that target and bind to the sodium ionophore are gaining acceptance for use as analgesics in chronic pain.     

Intra-Articular Bupivacaine Reduces Postoperative Pain and Meperidine Use After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized,Double-Blind Study

One hundred patients receiving unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) were randomized to receive an intra-articular injection of 300 mg bupivacaine or normal saline after completion of surgery. Pain scores of the bupivacaine group were significantly lower than those of the control group the first 12 hours postoperatively (all, P < 0.001). A significantly lower dose of meperidine was used in the study group than in the control group the first 24 hours postoperatively (median, 25 vs. 45 mg, P < 0.001). Nineteen patients in the study group required meperidine the first day after surgery, as compared to 45 patients in the control group. We conclude that intra-articular injection of bupivacaine after THA reduces pain and meperidine use in the first 12 hours after surgery.     

罗哌卡因和布比卡因腰麻的临床对比研究

目的 对比研究15mg罗哌卡因和10mg布比卡因腰麻临床作用。方法 选择下肢手术患者60例 ,18～75岁 ;ASAI～II级 ,随机分为两组 ,按3:2被认为是等效比率分别给予罗哌卡因15mg和布比卡因10mg,药液和10%GS配成重比重液。在L3、4间隙采用硬膜外腰麻联合穿刺技术行腰麻操作。比较观察两组患者感觉和运动阻滞的起效和恢复上的异同 ,并观察用药后术中和术后不良反应。结果罗哌卡因运动阻滞起效时间慢于布比卡因(p<0.05) ,运动恢复时间快于布比卡因(p<0.01),术中肌松阻滞程度弱于布比卡因(p<0.05或p<0.01)。结论 15mg罗哌卡因腰麻作用弱于10mg布比卡因