The Association Between Analgesia Gap and Type of Surgery, Analgesic Drugs, and Timing of Analgesic Administration: What Do We Know?

BACKGROUND: Inadequate postoperative pain management poses unique challenges for anesthesiologists. The transition from epidural analgesia to other analgesic drugs has its own challenges. Increasing pain during this period is defined as analgesia gap. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at determining the incidence of analgesia gap and its associated factors, such as type of surgery, analgesic drugs, and timing of analgesic administration. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort among acute pain service patients at a tertiary hospital from July to October 2018. There were 220 subjects included in this study. All subjects were scheduled for elective surgery with epidural analgesia. Following last epidural regimen administration, the pain scale was assessed using VAS. If the patient had VAS more than four, then they were classified as having analgesia gap. Type of surgery, type of analgesic drugs, and timing of drugs administration were measured as the associating factors. RESULTS: The incidence of analgesia gap in this tertiary hospital was 26.6%. Type of surgery was not significantly associated with the incidence of analgesia gap (P = 0.057). However, type of analgesic drugs and timing of analgesic administration were related to incidence of analgesic gap (P = 0.016 and P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of analgesia gap in this study was 26.6%. Type of analgesic drugs and timing of analgesic administration had a significant association with the incidence of analgesia gap. However, type of surgery did not have a significant association with the incidence of analgesia gap.

Comparison of IL-6 and CRP Concentration Between Quadratus Lumborum and Epidural Blockade Among Living Kidney Donors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: An adequate anesthesia technique generates appropriate postoperative analgesic properties and decreases the patient's stress response. This will lead to decreased morbidity and mortality associated with immunology disturbances, such as infection, prolonged wound healing, and sepsis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, as the markers of the stress response, between continuous epidural and quadratus lumborum (QL) block as postoperative analgesia techniques among living kidney donors. METHODS: Sixty-two patients were randomly divided into two equal groups: continuous epidural and QL block. A group received bilateral QL block with 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.25% and the other received 6 mL/hour of bupivacaine 0.25% continuously via an epidural catheter. Prior to extubation, the QL block group received bilateral QL block with the same dose and the continuous epidural group was administered with 6 mL/hour of bupivacaine 0.125%. Blood samples were drawn to compare IL-6 and CRP concentrations after intubation (preoperatively), directly after surgery, 24 hours postoperatively, and 48 hours postoperatively. Postoperative pain was measured with the numerical rating scale (NRS). Morphine requirement and duration of catheter usage were also measured postoperatively. Side effects within 24 hours postoperatively were noted. Data were analyzed with independent t-test or Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: No difference was observed between the groups in the plasma concentration of IL-6 either after surgery or 24 hours postoperatively (P = 0.785 and P = 0.361, respectively) although the mean IL-6 concentration 24 hours postoperatively was lower in the QL block group than in the continuous epidural group. CRP concentration was not significantly different between the groups either after surgery or 48 hours postoperatively (P = 0.805 and P = 0.636, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in IL-6 and CRP concentrations between continuous epidural and QL block among living kidney donors. Both continuous epidural and QL block techniques showed comparable postoperative analgesic properties among living kidney donors undergoing laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Comparison between Vapocoolant Spray and Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetics Cream in Reducing Pain during Spinal Injections.

BACKGROUND: Eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) cream is often used for local anesthesia during spinal injections. However, this agent has delayed onset of action while vapocoolant spray serves more advantages. The vapocoolant spray containing ethyl chloride has fast onset and is safe, low cost, and widely available. This study aimed at comparing the effectiveness of vapocoolant spray and EMLA cream in reducing pain for spinal injections. METHODS: This was an experimental study on 94 subjects with 47 subjects treated with EMLA cream and 47 subjects treated with vapocoolant spray. The effectiveness of anesthesia was assessed by using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and patient movement during the surgery. RESULTS: This study found that the pain scale was NPRS 0 (0-3) for the EMLA group and NPRS 0 (0-4) for the vapocoolant spray group. There was no significant difference between two groups for pain scale according to the Mann-Whitney U test. For patient movement, the movement was reported only in one (2.1%) patient in the EMLA group and one (2.1%) patient in the vapocoolant spray group. Based on Fisher's test, there was no significant difference between the two groups for patient movement. CONCLUSIONS: Both EMLA cream and vapocoolant spray were equally effective in reducing pain during spinal injection. There was no difference in degree of pain reduction and patient movement between the EMLA cream group and the vapocoolant spray group during spinal injection.

Comparison Between Lidocaine Inhalation and Intravenous Dexamethasone in Reducing Postoperative Sore Throat Frequency After Laryngeal Mask Insertion.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of postoperative sore throat (POST) after laryngeal mask airway insertion (LMA) was relatively high. Lidocaine might reduce the pain and inflammatory response. Additionally, inhalation form might result in a better distribution, which results in a better airway analgesia and minimal systemic effect. OBJECTIVES: To compare the incidence of sore throat post LMA insertion after 1.5 mg/kg of lidocaine inhalation and 10 mg of intravenous dexamethasone. METHODS: This was a single-blinded randomized clinical trial, which included 128 patients who underwent ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia with LMA insertion. Inclusion criteria were individuals 18 - 65 years old, ASA 1 or 2, Mallampati class I or II, and no sore throat before surgery. After University of Indonesia Research Ethical Committee approval and informed consent, all subjects were randomly divided into two groups: lidocaine inhalation group, which would receive lidocaine inhalation 2% 1.5 mg/kg (additional NaCl 0.9% until total 6 mL volume) and intravenous 2 mL NaCl 0.9%, and dexamethasone group, which would received NaCl 0.9% inhalation (6 mL volume) and dexamethasone 10 mg intravenously 10 minutes before LMA insertion. POST incidence and pain severity assessment were done 2 hours postoperatively. Statistical analysis were done with SPSS version 21. RESULTS: There were 10.9% of subjects in the lidocaine inhalation group and 9.4% subjects in the dexamethasone group who suffer from POST postoperatively (P > 0.05). The median of POST pain in the lidocaine inhalation group was 0 (0 - 1), whereas in dexamethasone group it was 0 (0 - 3). This study did not find any side effects on both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine inhalation 1.5 mg/kg was proportional to intravenous dexamethasone 10 mg in reducing the incidence and severity of POST after LMA insertion.