RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence supports a positive relationship between the intensity of early postoperative pain, and the risk of 30-day postoperative complications. Higher pain levels may hamper recovery and contribute to immunosuppression after surgery. This leaves patients at risk of postoperative complications. METHODS: One thousand patients who underwent major abdominal surgery (cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, esophageal, liver, or pancreas surgery) at the Radboud university medical center were randomly selected from eligible patients between 2014 and 2020. Pain scores on day 1, the independent variable of interest, were extracted from the electronic patient files. Outcome measures were 30-day postoperative complications (infectious, non-infectious, total complications and classification according to Clavien-Dindo). RESULTS: Seven hundred ninety complications occurred in 572 patients within 30 days after surgery, of which 289 (36.7%) were of infectious origin, and 501 (63.4%) complications were non-infectious. The mean duration from the end of surgery to the occurrence of infectious complications was 6.5 days (SD 5.6) and 4.1 days (SD 4.7) for non-infectious complications (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that pain scores on postoperative day 1 (POD1) were significantly positively associated with 30-day total complications after surgery (OR=1.132, 95% CI (1.076 to 1.190)), Clavien-Dindo classification (OR=1.131, 95% CI (1.071 to 1.193)), infectious complications (OR=1.126, 95% CI (1.059 to 1.196)), and non-infectious complications (OR=1.079, 95% CI (1.022 to 1.140)). CONCLUSIONS: After major abdominal surgery, higher postoperative pain scores on day 1 are associated with an increased risk of 30-day postoperative complications. Further studies should pursue whether optimization of perioperative analgesia can improve immune homeostasis, reduce complications after surgery and enhance postoperative recovery.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Guidelines do not provide clear recommendations with regard to the use of low intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the influence of low versus standard IAP during laparoscopic surgery on the key-outcomes in perioperative medicine as defined by the StEP-COMPAC consensus group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE for randomized controlled trials comparing low IAP (<10 mmHg) with standard IAP (10 mmHg or higher) during laparoscopic surgery without time, language, or blinding restrictions. According to the PRISMA guidelines, two review authors independently identified trials and extracted data. Risk ratio (RR), and mean difference (MD), with 95% CIs were calculated using random-effects models with RevMan5. Main outcomes were based on StEP-COMPAC recommendations, and included postoperative complications, postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) scores, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Eighty-five studies in a wide range of laparoscopic procedures (7349 patients) were included in this meta-analysis. The available evidence indicates that the use of low IAP (<10 mmHg) leads to a lower incidence of mild (Clavien-Dindo grade 1-2) postoperative complications (RR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.53-0.86), lower pain scores (MD=-0.68, 95% CI: -0.82 to 0.54) and PONV incidence (RR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.51-0.88), and a reduced length of hospital stay (MD=-0.29, 95% CI: -0.46 to 0.11). Low IAP did not increase the risk of intraoperative complications (RR=1.15, 95% CI: 0.77-1.73). CONCLUSIONS: Given the established safety and the reduced incidence of mild postoperative complications, lower pain scores, reduced incidence of PONV, and shorter length of stay, the available evidence supports a moderate to strong recommendation (1a level of evidence) in favor of low IAP during laparoscopic surgery.