Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of the transmuscular quadratus lumborum block (TQLB) with pericapsular injection (PCI) versus PCI alone in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in terms of perioperative pain control, as well as postoperative function in the postoperative anesthesia unit (PACU) setting. METHODS:Patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAI were prospectively randomized to receive 30 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine in a TQLB (n = 52) with PCI versus PCI alone (n = 51). The PCI included 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine given by the surgeon. All analyzed patients received general anesthesia. The primary outcome was postoperative pain scores assessed via the numerical rating scale (NRS) at 30 minutes postoperatively and immediately prior to discharge. Secondary outcomes were opioid utilization, expressed as morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), PACU recovery time, quadriceps strength (assessed after completion of PACU phase 1 criteria), and adverse events (nausea/vomiting). RESULTS:Average age, body mass index, and preoperative pain assessment were not significantly different between groups. There were no differences in NRS pain scores preoperatively, 30 minutes postoperatively, or immediately prior to discharge between groups (P > .05). Intraoperative opioid consumption was significantly lower in the TQLB group (MME: 16.8 ± 7.9) compared to controls (MME 20.6 ± 8.0; P = .009). However, there was no difference in the total opioid consumption (P > .05). There was no significant difference in total PACU length of stay (minutes) between the treatment (133.0 ± 48) and control groups (123.5 ± 47; P > .05). Quadriceps weakness was not significantly different between groups (P = .2). There was no difference in the number of patients that experienced nausea or vomiting between the TQLB group and control group (13% vs 16%; P = .99). Neither group had any reported serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS:TQLB and PCI do not improve postoperative pain scores or total opioid consumption compared to PCI alone. TQLB may decrease the amount of intraoperative opiate usage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Level I, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chronic residual pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the challenges of postoperative pain management. Duloxetine, by controlling neuropathic pain, and pregabalin, by affecting nociceptors, can effectively manage postoperative pain. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of perioperative oral duloxetine and pregabalin in pain management after knee arthroplasty. Methods: In this clinical trial, 60 patients scheduled for TKA under spinal anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of three groups A (pregabalin 75 mg), B (duloxetine 30 mg), and C (placebo). Drugs were administered 90 minutes before, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. The visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain, the first analgesic request time, postoperative analgesic consumption (i.v. parac-etamol), and WOMAC score six months after surgery were recorded. Results: The VAS score and analgesic consumption 48 hours after TKA in groups A and B significantly decreased compared to the placebo (P < 0.05). The first analgesic request time was longer in groups A and B than in group C (P < 0.05). While the differences were statistically significant, they are most likely not clinically significant. The WOMAC score before and six months after arthro-plasty did not differ between the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Perioperative oral pregabalin and duloxetine similarly reduce pain and the need for analgesic consumption within 48 hours after TKA but do not affect knee mobility status.

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed the way that health care providers interact with patients, particularly through the widespread implementation of telemedicine. Previous studies in other medical specialties have examined the role of telemedicine and physician satisfaction with the modality [1], but no such studies have been reported in the field of anesthesiology. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the scope of use and satisfaction with telemedicine among anesthesiologists who were ASA and ESAIC members. We developed a survey that was sent out to anesthesia providers through the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) and the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA). The survey was open for the duration of 30 days, after which it was closed and no new responses could be generated. The survey comprised three major sections and examined, (1) the characteristics of the anesthesia providers, (2) the settings within which they were using telemedicine, and (3) their satisfaction with the experience. We performed analyses to determine if there was a significant difference in satisfaction for those who used telemedicine prior to COVID-19 compared to those who started using it during the pandemic. There were a total of 708 responses from various provider demographics. Satisfaction with developing patient rapport was higher than satisfaction with airway and physical exam. Providers who were using telemedicine before the pandemic had consistently higher rates of satisfaction across all the subcategories. Familiarity with the software could have played a role in this result. Overall, satisfaction among users was high and the majority of practitioners, 86.3%, plan to continue using telemedicine in their practice.
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Background: Paravertebral blocks are one of the possible postoperative pain management modalities after laparotomy. Adjuvants to local anesthetics, including alpha agonists, have been shown to lead to better pain relief and increased duration of analgesia.
Objective(s): The aim of this study is to examine the effect of adding dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine for ultrasound-guided paravertebral blocks in laparotomy.
Method(s): In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT), we enrolled 42 patients scheduled for T6 to T8 thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) for analgesia after laparotomy. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups of BD (bupivacaine 2.5 mg/mL 20 mL plus dexmedetomidine 100 microg) and B (bupivacaine 20 mL alone). Following surgery, intravenous fentanyl patientcontrolled analgesia was initiated. The numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain, sedation score, total analgesic consumption, time to first analgesic requirement, side effects (such as nausea and vomiting), respiratory depression, and patients' satisfaction during the first 48 hours of evaluation were compared in the two groups.
Result(s): Pain scores and mean total analgesic consumption at the first 48 hours in the BD group were significantly lower than Group B (P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively). The time of first analgesic request was significantly longer in BD group (P < 0.001). Sedation scores and side effects did not differ significantly between the two groups.
Conclusion(s): Adding dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine for TPVB after laparotomy yielded better postoperative pain management without significant complications.
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Background and aims Retrospective data and prior studies suggest a synergistic analgesic effect of an adductor canal blockade (ACB) added to local infiltration analgesia (LIA) compared to LIA alone. Our hypothesis was that physical therapy (PT) milestones would be reached earlier with ACB + LIA than LIA alone. Methods After IRB approval, patients scheduled for unilateral primary TKA were randomized to receive either ACB or a sham block (saline) in addition to the LIA administered by the surgeon. Exclusion criteria included significant systemic disease, substance abuse and chronic pain. Spinal anesthetic and postoperative pain management were standardized. ACB was performed at the mid-thigh level with 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 adrenaline. LIA was performed by the surgeon using bupivacaine, ketorolac, adrenaline and morphine, as well as liposomal bupivacaine. Data collected included passive and active ROM of the knee in flexion and extension; 2-minute walk test; total distance ambulated on the day of surgery and the first and second post-operative days; and pain NVS before, during and after physical therapy sessions. Results Preliminary results of 63 patients out of 150 planned are reported. Pain scores, measured as an AUC for the initial 48 hours, were not different between groups. However, total distance ambulated and 2-minute walk tests were lower in the group that received the ACB in addition to LIA at each of the time points. Conclusions While these interim results remain to be confirmed, the data suggest that LIA alone is preferable to LIA + ACB

BACKGROUND:The current opioid epidemic highlights the urgent need for effective adjuvant therapies to complement postoperative opioid analgesia. Intra-operative ketamine infusion has been shown to reduce postoperative opioid consumption and improve pain control in opioid-tolerant patients after spinal fusion surgery. Its efficacy for opioid-naïve patients, however, remains controversial. OBJECTIVE:We hypothesised that low-dose ketamine infusion after major spinal surgery reduces opioid requirements in opioid-tolerant patients, but not in opioid-naïve patients. DESIGN/METHODS:Randomised placebo-controlled prospective study. SETTING/METHODS:Single-centre, tertiary care hospital, November 2012 until November 2014. PATIENTS/METHODS:A total of 129 patients were classified as either opioid-tolerant (daily use of opioid medications during 2 weeks preceding the surgery) or opioid-naïve group, then randomised to receive either ketamine or placebo; there were thus four groups of patients. All patients received intravenous hydromorphone patient-controlled analgesia postoperatively. INTERVENTION/METHODS:Patients in the ketamine groups received a ketamine infusion (bolus 0.2 mg kg over 30 min followed by 0.12 mg kg h for 24 h). Patients in the placebo groups received 0.9% saline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES/METHODS:The primary outcome was opioid consumption during the first 24 h postoperatively. The secondary outcome was numerical pain scores during the first 24 h and central nervous system side effects. RESULTS:Postoperative hydromorphone consumption was significantly reduced in the opioid-tolerant ketamine group, compared with the opioid-tolerant placebo group [0.007 (95% CI 0.006 to 0.008) versus 0.011 (95% CI 0.010 to 0.011) mg kg h, Bonferroni corrected P < 0.001]. There was no difference in hydromorphone use between the opioid-naïve groups (0.004 and 0.005 mg kg h in the opioid-naïve ketamine and placebo group, respectively, P = 0.118). Pain scores did not differ significantly between the opioid-tolerant ketamine group and the opioid-naïve groups. There was no significant difference in side effects among groups. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Postoperative low-dose ketamine infusion reduces opioid requirements for the first 24 h following spinal fusion surgery in opioid-tolerant, but not in opioid-naïve patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION/BACKGROUND:NCT03274453 with clinicaltrials.gov.

Background and Aims: Successful total knee replacement (TKA) is dependent on balancing peak load at the medial and lateral tibiofemoral joint interfaces. This can be achieved using a sterile sensor system intra-operatively. On the request of one surgeon at our institution, we explored the feasibility and safety of spinal anesthesia with limited motor blockade. Methods: 25 patients were enrolled in an IRB-approved non-randomized pilot study. For spinal anesthesia, a solution consisting of 1 mL of 5 mg/mL isobaric bupivacaine with 1.5 mL sterile saline solution containing 7.5 mcg of sufentanil was administered. During surgery, after components were cemented, patients were awakened and asked to move their leg in order to measure pressure balance. If an imbalance was noted, the surgeon would make adjustments intraoperatively. Results: During the intraoperativewake-up test, 15 patients successfully flexed and extended at the knee on command, while 10 were too weak for meaningful testing. As we reduced the local anesthetic volume to 0.8 mL in patients shorter than 160 cm, that issue was eliminated. One patient had neutral recollection of the test on follow up. No patient had pain or other side effect. Conclusions: A spinal anesthetic using sufentanil in combination with lowdose local anesthetic appears feasible and safe to provide surgical anesthesia for TKA. By performing a motor-sparing spinal anesthetic with an intraoperativewake up test, we can allow surgeons to test active pressure balance to improve the accuracy of the pressure balancing technique. A randomized study is in preparation to determine whether long-term surgical result is improved