A comprehensive multimodal pain treatment reduces opioid consumption after multilevel spine surgery

Purpose

Major spine surgery with multilevel instrumentation is followed by large amount of opioid consumption, significant pain and difficult mobilization in a population of predominantly chronic pain patients. This case–control study investigated if a standardized comprehensive pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) treatment protocol would improve pain treatment in this population.

Methods

A new regimen with acetaminophen, NSAIDs, gabapentin, S-ketamine, dexamethasone, ondansetron and epidural local anesthetic infusion or patient controlled analgesia with morphine, was introduced in a post-intervention group of 41 consecutive patients undergoing multilevel (median 10) instrumented spinal fusions and compared with 44 patients in a pre-intervention group.

Results

Compared to patients in the pre-intervention group, patients treated according to the new protocol consumed less opioid on postoperative day (POD) 1 (P = 0.024) and 2 (P = 0.048), they were mobilized earlier from bed (P = 0.003) and ambulation was earlier both with and without a walking frame (P = 0.027 and P = 0.027, respectively). Finally, patients following the new protocol experienced low intensities of nausea, sedation and dizziness on POD 1–6.

Conclusions

In this study of patients scheduled for multilevel spine surgery, it was demonstrated that compared to a historic group of patients receiving usual care, a comprehensive and standardized multimodal pain and PONV protocol significantly reduced opioid consumption, improved postoperative mobilization and presented concomitant low levels of nausea, sedation and dizziness.     

Postoperative opioid consumption and prescription in major abdominal surgery

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie -     

Relationship between preoperative serum rapid turnover proteins and early-stage surgical wound infection after spine surgery

Purpose

Malnutrition is one of the important risk factors for postoperative complications. Transferrin, prealbumin, and retinol-binding protein, so-called rapid turnover proteins (RTPs), may be the better indicators for early detection of nutritional deficits. However, few studies have described the impact of serum RTP levels on postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) in spine surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative serum RTPs and postoperative SSI.

Methods

The data of 105 patients (64 male, 41 female; average age 64.4 years; age range 20–88 years) who underwent spine surgery in a single institution between 2014 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative total lymphocyte count, serum albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, retinol-binding protein, pre-and postopeartive C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), and total lymphocyte count were evaluated. Postoperative CRP, WBC, and total lymphocyte count were repeated two or three times/week until hospital discharge. A broad spectrum penicillin or second generation cephalosporin was administered as a prophylactic antibiotic to each patient. When repeated CRP elevation or lymphopenia (no more than 10% or 1000/μL) after postoperative day 3 or 4 was observed, possible SSI was diagnosed. Variables between possible SSI group and non-SSI group were compared using Mann–Whitney U or Chi square test. All variables on univariate analysis were included in multiple logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for possible postoperative SSI.

Results

Thirty-five patients were diagnosed with possible SSI. The mean operative time of possible SSI group was significantly longer (p = 0.036), preoperative total lymphocyte count and serum prealbumin level of possible SSI group were significantly lower (p = 0.002, p = 0.048, respectively) than that of non-SSI group. On univariate analysis, operative time (p = 0.012), preoperative total lymphocyte count (p = 0.041), serum albumin level (p = 0.038), and serum prealbumin level (p = 0.044) were significant contributors to possible SSI, and multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that operative time was the significant contributor to possible SSI (odds ratio 1.008, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.001–1.015, p = 0.024).

Conclusions

A low prealbumin level is a possible risk factor for early-stage SSI in spine surgery, though it was not statistically significant; operative time was the most important indicator of SSI on multivariate analysis.

     

Beyond opioid patient-controlled analgesia: a systematic review of analgesia after major spine surgery

Postoperative pain control in patients undergoing spine surgery remains a challenge for the anesthesiologist. In addition to incisional pain, these patients experience pain arising from deeper tissues such as bones, ligaments, muscles, intervertebral disks, facet joints, and damaged nerve roots. The pain from these structures may be more severe and can lead to neural sensitization and release of mediators both peripherally and centrally. The problem is compounded by the fact that many of these patients are either opioid dependent or opioid tolerant, making them less responsive to the most commonly used therapy for postoperative pain (opioid-based intermittent or patient-controlled analgesia). The purpose of this review was to compare all published treatment options available that go beyond intravenous opiates and attempt to find the best possible treatment modality.     

Use of electromyography to predict likelihood of recovery following C5 palsy after posterior cervical spine surgery

BACKGROUNDC5 palsy affects approximately 5% to 10% of patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. It has a significant negative impact on patient quality-of-life outcomes and healthcare costs. Although >80% of patients improve, some are left with persistent, debilitating deficits. Our objective was to examine if electrodiagnostic testing could be used to successfully identify patients likely to experience complete, partial, and no recovery.METHODSPatients undergoing posterior cervical decompression and fusion at a single institution over a 10-year period were identified. Those experiencing postoperative C5 palsy were included. Outcomes examined included motor recovery of the affected deltoid as a function of time, and changes in electrodiagnostic testing as a function of time since injury. Electrodiagnostic testing included electromyography and was sub-analyzed by time of acquisition postinjury. Deltoid strength was graded on manual motor testing using the 5-point medical research council grading system.RESULTSOf 77 patients experiencing C5 palsy, 29 had postoperative electrodiagnostic testing. Patients experiencing complete recovery on average achieved functional (4/5) strength by 6-weeks post injury and 4+ per 5 strength by 6-months. Those experiencing partial recovery only achieved antigravity strength (3/5) by 6-weeks and low-function (4?/5) strength by 6-months. Electrodiagnostic testing performed 6-weeks to 6-months postinjury demonstrated that those experiencing complete recovery were more likely to have normal motor unit (MU) recruitment than those experiencing partial (p<.001) or no recovery (p=.008). The presence of ≥2+ fibrillation on tests acquired ≤6-weeks of injury identified patients unlikely to experience any recovery with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 88.9%. The presence of normal MU recruitment on tests acquired 6-weeks to 6-months postinjury identified patients likely to experience complete recovery with a PPV of 87.5%.CONCLUSIONSElectrodiagnostic testing may be a valuable means of differentiating between patients with C5 palsy likely to experience complete, partial, or no recovery. Testing between 6-weeks and 6-months post onset may aid in identifying those least likely to have a complete recovery. No MUs at 4 to 6-months, or reduced units with strength that is not improving, portends a poor long-term outcome. In this population, peripheral nerve transfers may be considered sooner.     

Acetaminophen improves analgesia but does not reduce opioid requirement after major spine surgery in children and adolescents

STUDY DESIGN.: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study to evaluate the effect of intravenously (IV) administered acetaminophen on postoperative pain in children and adolescents undergoing surgery for idiopathic scoliosis or spondylolisthesis. OBJECTIVE.: To evaluate effectiveness of IV-administered acetaminophen on postoperative analgesia, opioid consumption, and acetaminophen concentrations after major spine surgery in adolescents. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Scoliosis surgery is associated with severe postoperative pain, most commonly treated with IV-administered opioids. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as adjuvant to opioids, improve analgesia and reduce the need for opioids. However, by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase enzymes peripherally, NSAIDs may inhibit bone healing. Acetaminophen, a centrally acting analgesic, does not have the adverse effects of NSAIDs and has improved analgesia in children after another orthopedic surgery. METHODS.: In an institutional review board approved study, 36 American Society of Anesthesiology patient classification I to III patients of 10 to 18 years of age were analyzed. Acetaminophen 30 mg/kg, administered IV or 0.9% NaCl was administered at the end of scoliosis or spondylolisthesis surgery, and thereafter twice at 8-hour intervals. Timed blood samples for acetaminophen determination were taken between 0.25 and 20 hours after the first dose. All patients received standard propofol-remifentanil anesthesia. Pain scores (visual analogue scale [VAS], 0-10), opioid consumption, and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS.: In the surgical ward, 7 (39%) patients in the acetaminophen and 13 (72%) in the placebo group had a VAS pain score 6 or more (P < 0.05). There were fewer hours with VAS score 6 or more in the acetaminophen group compared with the placebo group (8.7% vs. 17.8% of the hours, P < 0.05). There was no difference in oxycodone consumption during the 24-hour follow-up between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION.: IV-administered acetaminophen 90 mg/kg/day, adjuvant to oxycodone, did improve analgesia, but did not diminish oxycodone consumption during 24 hours after major spine surgery in children and adolescents. All acetaminophen concentrations were in nontoxic levels.     

Pulmonary complications after spine surgery

Spine surgery is one of the fastest growing branches of orthopedic surgery. Patients often present with a relatively high acuity and, depending on surgical approach, morbidity and mortality can be comparatively high. Among the most prevalent and most frequently fatality-bound perioperative complications are those affecting the pulmonary system; evidence of clinical or subclinical lung injury triggered by spine surgical procedures is emerging. Increasing burden of comorbidity among the patient population further increases the likelihood of adverse outcome. This review is intended to give an overview over some of the most important causes of pulmonary complications after spine surgery, their pathophysiology and possible ways to reduce harm associated with those conditions. We discuss factors surrounding surgical trauma, timing of surgery, bone marrow and debris embolization, transfusion associated lung injury, and ventilator associated lung injury.     

Visual loss after spine surgery

Incidence of perioperative visual loss ranges from 0.06% to 0.2% with the most common cause as ischemic optic neuropathy. We report one-year follow up of a 50-years-old hypertensive housewife who underwent lumbar decompression and fusion for degenerative scoliosis, but woke up with painless unilateral visual loss. Fundus examination was normal. Her visual acuity improved from initial finger counting close to face to finger counting at 3 m at 1 year. Identification of high risk patients may help in appropriate preoperative counselling, prevention and early recognition of this devastating complication.