Regional anesthesia and the acute pain service: compliance and controversies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aims of this article are three-fold: first, to describe the necessary elements that result in accurate and compliant billing practice; second, to discuss billing in the context of new blocks and liposomal bupivacaine; and third, to gain a better understanding of compliance law. RECENT FINDINGS: Regional anesthesia techniques provide an appealing alternative to opioid medication for pain management. However, these techniques also increase the cost of care. As new peripheral and fascial plane blocks emerge, proper coding has become more complex. SUMMARY: Familiarity with documentation, billing, and compliance requirements can help maintain proper reimbursement rates, as well as limit potential downstream consequences. Most importantly this can help increase the viability and success of an acute pain service.

A Look Forward and a Look Back: The Growing Role of ERAS Protocols in Orthopedic Surgery.

The success of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in improving patient outcomes and reducing costs in general surgery are widely recognized. ERAS guidelines have now been developed in orthopedics with the following recommendations. Preoperatively, patients should be medically optimized with a focus on smoking cessation, education, and anxiety reduction. Intraoperatively, using multimodal and regional therapies like neuraxial anesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks facilitates same-day discharge. Postoperatively, early nutrition with appropriate thromboprophylaxis and early mobilization are essential. As the evidence of their improvement in patient outcomes and satisfaction continues, these pathways will prove invaluable in optimizing patient care in orthopedics.

Perioperative Pain Management for Thoracic Surgery: A Multi-Layered Approach.

Cardiothoracic surgeries frequently pose unique challenges in the management of perioperative acute pain that require a multifaceted and personalized approach in order to optimize patient outcomes. This article discusses various analgesic strategies including regional anesthesia techniques such as thoracic epidurals, erector spinae plane blocks, and serratus anterior plane blocks and underscores the significance of perioperative multimodal medications, while providing nuanced recommendations for their use. This article further attempts to provide evidence for the efficacy of the different modalities and compares the effectiveness of the choice of analgesia. The roles of Acute Pain Services (APS) and Transitional Pain Services (TPS) in mitigating opioid dependence and chronic postsurgical pain are also discussed. Precision medicine is also presented as a potential way to offer a patient tailored analgesic strategy. Supported by various randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, the article concludes that an integrated, patient-specific approach encompassing regional anesthesia and multimodal medications, while also utilizing the services of the Acute Pain Service can help to enhance pain management outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery.

No Increased Risk of Cerebrovascular Accident With Beach-Chair Versus Lateral Positioning for Shoulder Arthroscopy.

Purpose: To assess the incidence of adverse cerebrovascular events following shoulder arthroscopy in the beach-chair position when compared with the lateral position. Methods: Records of 5 shoulder surgeons were searched using Current Procedural Technology codes to identify patients who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery in both the beach-chair and lateral positions between 2015 and 2020. Using both Current Procedural Technology codes for cerebrovascular accident (CVA) imaging as well as the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, codes for CVA and late neurologic sequela, patient charts were analyzed in the 30-day postoperative period. The anesthesiology record also was queried for data regarding the blood pressure management intraoperatively, recording mean arterial pressures (MAPs), and vasopressor administration. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and complications were compared between the 2 cohorts using the Student 2-tailed t-test for continuous variables and χ2 analysis for categorical variables. Significance was set at P < .05. Results: There were 711 patients included in the analysis, with 471 in the beach-chair cohort and 240 in the lateral cohort. Baseline demographics were similar between groups, except for age and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, with the lateral group being significantly younger (P < .001) and lower American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (P = .001) than the beach-chair group. Mean body mass index, history of CVA, transient ischemic attack, hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease were not significantly different. There were no documented CVAs in either cohort. There was no significant difference in the number of postoperative radiologic scans to evaluate for CVA (P = .77) or neurologic sequelae (P = .48) between groups. The beach-chair cohort had fewer instances of MAP <65 mm Hg, greater mean minimum MAP, but a greater percentage of patients who received blood pressure support. Conclusions: There were no significant differences identified in the incidence of CVA between patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the beach-chair and lateral positions. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

SIV clearance from neonatal macaques following transient CCR5 depletion.

Treatment of people with HIV (PWH) with antiretroviral therapy (ART) results in sustained suppression of viremia, but HIV persists indefinitely as integrated provirus in CD4-expressing cells. Intact persistent provirus, the "rebound competent viral reservoir" (RCVR), is the primary obstacle to achieving a cure. Most variants of HIV enter CD4 + T cells by binding to the chemokine receptor, CCR5. The RCVR has been successfully depleted only in a handful of PWH following cytotoxic chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation from donors with a mutation in CCR5 . Here we show that long-term SIV remission and apparent cure can be achieved for infant macaques via targeted depletion of potential reservoir cells that express CCR5. Neonatal rhesus macaques were infected with virulent SIVmac251, then treated with ART beginning one week after infection, followed by treatment with either a CCR5/CD3-bispecific or a CD4-specific antibody, both of which depleted target cells and increased the rate of plasma viremia decrease. Upon subsequent cessation of ART, three of seven animals treated with CCR5/CD3-bispecific antibody rebounded quickly and two rebounded 3 or 6 months later. Remarkably, the other two animals remained aviremic and efforts to detect replication-competent virus were unsuccessful. Our results show that bispecific antibody treatment can achieve meaningful SIV reservoir depletion and suggest that functional HIV cure might be achievable for recently infected individuals having a restricted reservoir.

A Look Forward and a Look Back: The Growing Role of ERAS Protocols in Orthopedic Surgery.

The success of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in improving patient outcomes and reducing costs in general surgery are widely recognized. ERAS guidelines have now been developed in orthopedics with the following recommendations. Preoperatively, patients should be medically optimized with a focus on smoking cessation, education, and anxiety reduction. Intraoperatively, using multimodal and regional therapies like neuraxial anesthesia and peripheral nerve blocks facilitates same-day discharge. Postoperatively, early nutrition with appropriate thromboprophylaxis and early mobilization are essential. As the evidence of their improvement in patient outcomes and satisfaction continues, these pathways will prove invaluable in optimizing patient care in orthopedics.

Difficulties of delayed treatment of craniosynostosis in a patient with Crouzon, increased intracranial pressure, and papilledema.

Crouzon syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by cranial synostosis, hypertelorism, orbital proptosis, parrot-beaked nose, short upper lip, hypoplastic maxilla, and a relative mandibular prognathism, without extremity involvement. Surgical intervention should occur at the onset of progressive craniosynostosis to treat or to prevent intracranial hypertension and visual impairment. Throughout developing countries, early treatment is often not a viable option. Often, the only option for treatment is through humanitarian missions. Appropriate preselection of surgical patients is essential, as is having a multidisciplinary team and a well-equipped hospital and staff to perform the operations and to care for the postsurgical patient. This type of humanitarian care benefits the patient selected to receive the intense logistical and financial effort when there is no possibility of timely care in their own countries. This clinical report describes a patient with Crouzon syndrome brought to the United States from a developing country through humanitarian efforts. She presented at 19 months of age with bicoronal and sagittal synostosis and advanced visual impairment and papilledema. Surgical intervention included cranial expansion and reconstruction with a multidisciplinary team. This case illustrates not only the difficulty of delayed treatment but also some of the issues arising from this type of humanitarian medical care.

Effect of itch, scratching and mental stress on autonomic nervous system function in atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is a stress-responsive disorder that involves the autonomic nervous system. The current study used heart rate variability to examine the effect of itch, scratching and mental stress in atopic patients with moderate to severe disease. Twenty-one patients with active disease and 24 healthy volunteers participated in the study. Heart rate variability measurements were taken at 5 min intervals at rest and after each of 3 acute stress tests, which included histamine-induced itch at the forearm, scratching around the itch site, and the Trier Social Stress Test. Atopic patients displayed a higher heart rate than healthy controls in all 4 experimental settings, which was statistically significant using Cohen's delta analysis. The very low frequency component of the power spectrum, indicative of sympathetic activity, showed a 200% increase after scratching in patients with atopic dermatitis. The high frequency component, reflecting parasympathetic tone, responded swiftly to itch and scratching in healthy controls, but displayed a limited adaptability in atopic dermatitis. This study supports the concept that atopic dermatitis is a stress-responsive disorder and involves autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Atopic subjects exhibited an overactive sympathetic response to itch and scratching, while the parasympathetic tone was persistently and rigidly elevated, showing a lack of adaptability in response to stress.

Utilization of an Orthopedic Hood as Personal Protective Equipment for Intubation of Coronavirus Patients: a Brief Technical Report.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has afflicted millions of people worldwide since its first case was reported in December 2019. Personal protective equipment (PPE) has been tailored accordingly, but as of April 2020, close to 10 000 health care workers in the United States have contracted COVID-19 despite wearing recommended PPE. As such, standard guidelines for PPE may be inadequate for the health care worker performing high-risk aerosolizing procedures such as endotracheal intubation. In this brief technical report, we describe the integration of an orthopedic hood cover as an item for full barrier protection against COVID-19 transmission. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The Coronavirus Airway Task Force at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center approved this initiative and went live with the full barrier suit during the last week of March 2020. The PPE described in this report includes a Stryker T4 Hood, normally used in conjunction with the Stryker Steri-Shield T4 Helmet. Instead of the helmet, the hood is secured to the head via a baseball cap and binder clip. This head covering apparatus is to be used as an accessory to other PPE items that include an N95 mask, waterproof gown, and disposable gloves. The motor ventilation system is not used in order to prevent airborne viral entry into the hood. DISCUSSION: An advantage of the full barrier suit is an additional layer of droplet protection during intubation. The most notable disadvantage is the absence of a ventilation system within the hood covering. CONCLUSION: Modification of existing PPE may provide protection for health care workers during high-risk aerosolizing procedures such as endotracheal intubation. Although the integration of this medical equipment meets the immediate needs of an escalating crisis, further innovation is on the horizon. More research is needed to confirm the safety of modified PPE.

Social media for the regional anesthesiologist: can we use it in place of medical journals?

The regional anesthesia community regularly uses social media for advocacy and education. Well-known leaders in the field are willing to share their opinions with colleagues in a public forum. Some visionaries predict that the influence of social media will soon transcend that of the traditional academic journal. While physicians support the use of social media, an trend may exist toward anecdotal information. Does a lack of online regulation along with a bias towards self-promotion cloud meaningful discussion? In order to avoid the pitfalls of social media, thoughtful communication will help regional anesthesiologists promote their subspecialty. Mindful dialog, promotion of academic journals, and professional etiquette will help maintain a collegial environment.

The Impact of Music and Noise-Cancellation on Sedation Requirements During Total Knee Replacement: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Music has emerged as a well-received medical intervention. Patients may be uncomfortable during total joint replacement, which can result in high sedation requirements. These requirements place elderly patients at risk for delirium. This study compares the effect of noise-cancellation versus music medicine on sedation requirements, pain, and opioid consumption during elective total knee replacement. METHODS: This prospective, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial was conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center between July 2018 and July 2019. All participants underwent primary total knee arthroplasty with a combined spinal-epidural as their primary anesthetic and received noise-cancelling, wireless headphones. Patients in the control group received the noise-cancellation feature only, while patients in the experimental group were permitted to listen to music of their choice. Patients signaled a request for sedation by squeezing a noise-making rubber hippopotamus toy. The primary outcomes included whether sedation was requested by the participant, the number of sedation demand doses requested, and the amount of propofol sedation administered during the procedure. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores, total opioid consumption, and time to first opioid request. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent (n = 36) of patients agreed to participate in the study. Forty-four percent of participants in the noise-cancellation group and 19% of participants in the music group requested sedation (P = .25). The median propofol consumption was not different between groups (0 [0-6.7] µg/kg/min vs 0 [0-0] µg/kg/min, P = .101 for noise cancellation vs music, respectively). Pain scores and opioid consumption were not different between groups. DISCUSSION: To date, this is the first study to use Bluetooth communication, noise-cancellation, and an Internet-based music streaming service to determine whether this technology has an impact on outcomes during major orthopedic surgery. CONCLUSION: As an isolated intervention, the benefits of music in a complex operating room environment may be overstated. However, music integration with noise-reduction technology and patient-controlled sedation may lead to a safer and more satisfying anesthetic. More research is needed to determine the nonpharmacologic interventions that will produce positive outcomes for the geriatric population.

Continuous Intravenous Lidocaine as an Effective Pain Adjunct for Opioid-Induced Bowel Dysfunction: A Case Report.

This case study describes a patient with suspected opioid-induced bowel dysfunction who had improved pain control when treated with intravenous (IV) lidocaine. An 80-year-old man with failed back surgery syndrome managed with an intrathecal (IT) pump presented with protracted abdominal pain. The acute pain service initiated a lidocaine infusion at 1 mg·min, and the patient reported significant pain relief. The patient experienced refractory abdominal pain with 3 attempts to wean the lidocaine infusion. Eventually, a successful transitional regimen was achieved with methylnaltrexone and transdermal lidocaine patches. Lidocaine infusions may be an effective and underutilized multimodal adjunct for nonsurgical pain conditions.

Hemodynamic Instability and Lipid Emulsion Resuscitation After Subcutaneous Injection of a Liposomal Bupivacaine Admixture: A Case Report.

This case report describes a patient whose blood pressure decreased from a systolic pressure of 130-140 to 70-80 mm Hg after receiving extended-release liposomal bupivacaine in combination with plain bupivacaine. An 83-year-old woman with hepatocellular carcinoma presented for right hepatectomy and cholecystectomy. No hemodynamic instability was noted during the procedure. When an admixture of liposomal bupivacaine and bupivacaine hydrochloride was infiltrated into the surgical incision site during skin closure, the patient then became profoundly hypotensive. Her blood pressure was supported with phenylephrine boluses and continuous phenylephrine infusion. Lipid emulsion therapy was given to treat suspected local anesthetic toxicity. In response, the patient's blood pressure recovered and the vasopressor requirement was significantly reduced.

Postoperative oxycodone toxicity in a patient with chronic pain and end-stage renal disease.

We present this case to review the metabolism of oxycodone and the effects of end-stage renal disease on the elimination of oxycodone and its metabolites. A 42-year-old female with end-stage renal disease who was dependent on hemodialysis presented for left hamstring posterior capsule release. She had been receiving methadone for 2 years for chronic leg pain. On postoperative day 1, the patient's medication was changed from IV hydromorphone to oral oxycodone to treat breakthrough pain. By the next day, the patient was unarousable with notable respiratory depression. She did not fully recover after urgent hemodialysis but did have full recovery after receiving an IV naloxone infusion for 22 hours. Further study of the safety of oxycodone in hemodialysis patients is warranted.