Rectus sheath catheters reduce opiate use in pancreaticoduodenectomy: a pre- and postintervention cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the only curative option for patients with pancreatic cancer; however, pain remains a considerable problem postoperatively. With many centres moving away from using epidural analgesia, there is the need to evaluate alternative opiate sparing techniques for postoperative analgesia. We sought to determine if rectus sheath catheters (RSCs) had an opiate sparing and analgesic effect compared with standard care alone (opiate analgesia). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective pre- and postintervention cohort study of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy at a single tertiary academic hospital in Toronto, Canada, between April 2018 and December 2019. All patients undergoing a pancreaticoduodenectomy were eligible for inclusion. Among the 101 patients identified, 84 (61 control, 23 RSCs) were analyzed after exclusion criteria were applied (epidural analgesia, admission to intensive care intubated or reintubated within the first 96 hours). The pre-intervention group received a semi-standardized course of analgesics, including intravenous hydromorphone, acetaminophen, ketamine, with or without nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, and with or without intravenous lidocaine; the latter 2 drugs were at the individual anesthesiologist and surgeon's preference. For the postintervention group, the same course of analgesics were used, with the addition of RSCs. These were inserted at the end of the operation, with a loading dose of ropivacaine administered and followed by a programmed intermittent bolus regime for 72-96 hours. The primary outcome measure was total postoperative opiate consumption (oral morphine equivalents). Secondary outcomes included pain scores (numeric rating scale) and treatment-related adverse effects. RESULTS: Opiate consumption (oral morphine equivalents) at 96 hours was significantly lower (median 188 mg, interquartile range [IQR] 112-228 v. 242.4 mg, IQR 166.8-352) with and without RSC, respectively (p = 0.01). The RSC group used significantly less opiates at each time point from 24 hours postoperatively, with no significant difference in pain scores between the groups and no significant catheter-related complications. CONCLUSION: The use of RSCs was associated with significant reductions in postoperative opiate consumption. Given the ease of placement and management, with minimal complications, RSCs should be incorporated into a course of postoperative multimodal analgesia. A large scale randomized controlled trial should be conducted to further investigate these findings.

Evaluating the Influence of IV Ketamine on Postoperative Opioid Use for Surgical Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre.

Background: Subanesthetic doses of ketamine have been shown to improve the efficacy of opioids, increase pain control, and exemplify opioid-sparing effects when used as postoperative analgesia for adults. Objectives: To determine, for surgical patients, the impact of IV ketamine infusions on opioid use in hospital, overall and within 24 h before discharge, as well as pain scores. Methods: A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted, in which surgical patients exposed to ketamine were compared with those not exposed to ketamine, among admissions from January 1, 2018, to February 28, 2020. Patients were matched for age, surgical service, and sex. Results: A total of 104 patients were included in the study. Overall, there was no significant difference in mean total opioid use in hospital for patients exposed and not exposed to ketamine (171.7 mg versus 115.5 mg oral morphine equivalent [OME], p = 0.09), nor was there any difference in opioid use in the 24 h before discharge (28.2 mg versus 18.2 mg OME, p = 0.14). Patient-reported pain scores did not differ between groups. More patients in the ketamine group experienced hallucinations than in the group not exposed to ketamine (5 versus 0, p = 0.024). Conclusions: Overall, subanesthetic doses of IV ketamine used postoperatively in surgical patients did not decrease opioid use or patient-reported pain. More patients who received ketamine had documented hallucinations. These results will help guide postoperative analgesia practice and strategies to reduce opioid use.

Contexte: Il a été démontré que des doses sous-anesthésiques de kétamine améliorent l'efficacité des opioïdes, augmentent le contrôle de la douleur et illustrent les effets d'épargne des opioïdes lorsqu'elles sont utilisées comme analgésie postopératoire chez l'adulte. Objectifs: Déterminer, pour les patients chirurgicaux, l'impact des perfusions de kétamine IV sur la consommation d'opioïdes à l'hôpital en général et dans les 24 h précédant la sortie, ainsi que les scores de douleur. Méthodes: Une étude de cohorte rétrospective appariée a été menée dans laquelle on a comparé, chez les patients chirurgicaux admis du 1er janvier 2018 au 28 février 2020, ceux qui ont été exposés à la kétamine à ceux non exposés à la kétamine. Les patients ont été appariés selon l'âge, le service chirurgical et le sexe. Résultats: Au total, 104 patients ont été inclus dans l'étude. Dans l'ensemble, il n'y avait pas de différence significative dans la consommation totale moyenne d'opioïdes à l'hôpital pour les patients exposés et non exposés à la kétamine (171,7 mg contre 115,5 mg d'équivalents de morphine orale [OME], p = 0,09), ni de différence dans la consommation d'opioïdes dans les 24 h avant la sortie (28,2 mg contre 18,2 mg OME, p = 0,14). Les scores de douleur rapportés par les patients ne différaient pas entre les groupes. Plus de patients du groupe kétamine que du groupe non exposé à la kétamine ont eu des hallucinations (5 contre 0, p = 0,024). Conclusions: Dans l'ensemble, les doses sous-anesthésiques de kétamine IV utilisées après l'opération chez les patients chirurgicaux n'ont pas diminué l'utilisation d'opioïdes ni la douleur signalée par les patients. Plus de patients ayant reçu de la kétamine avaient des hallucinations documentées. Ces résultats aideront à guider la pratique de l'analgésie postopératoire et les stratégies visant à réduire l'utilisation d'opioïdes.

Survey of Current Practices: Peripheral Nerve Block Utilization by ED Physicians for Treatment of Pain in the Hip Fracture Patient Population.

BACKGROUND: In 2010-11 approximately 968 hip fracture patients presented to emergency departments in the Greater Toronto Local Health Integration Network (GTA-LHIN). Optimal pain management is a frequently overlooked aspect of hip fracture patient care, which may contribute to patient outcomes. Although recommendations have been published, there is currently not a standardized approach to the analgesic management of pain in the hip fracture patient. Nerve blocks, including the fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB), are more effective than traditional opioid analgesics in reducing pain after hip fracture. Research suggests that analgesia via nerve blockade is best initiated early, upon arrival to the emergency department. Emergency physicians are trained in ultrasound, and do utilize regional anaesthesia; however, the frequency of block utilization and techniques used for block insertion are unknown. We sought to undertake the first survey of Emergency Department (ED) staff and resident physicians across the GTA-LHIN, looking at the current ED practice of nerve block analgesia in hip fracture patients. PURPOSE: The primary aim was to determine the prevalence and range of techniques utilized. The secondary aims were to determine the extent of training in nerve block insertion techniques, to gauge opinion on the most important objectives for future training courses, and to seek an understanding of the barriers to establishing a standardized approach for nerve block utilization in hip fracture patients. CONCLUSIONS: This data will be used to develop a multidisciplinary training program specifically for use by ED physicians. ED physicians and anesthesiologists will collaborate to standardize nerve block insertion techniques and develop an optimal analgesic management plan of hip fracture patients at Sunnybrook Hospital.

High quality labour analgesia using small gauge epidural needles and catheters.

PURPOSE: Inadvertent epidural needle punctures represent the leading cause of severe postdural puncture headache (PDPH) in parturients. Use of small gauge (G) epidural needles for continuous analgesia has received little attention despite possible important reductions in PDPH. We report the first study to examine the feasibility of using small G Tuohy needles and 23 G catheters for labour analgesia. METHODS: Healthy parturients 30 min), recognized dural puncture, PDPH, patient assessment of analgesia within 24 hr of delivery, complications and anesthesiologist satisfaction. RESULTS: Twenty-seven parturients were recruited. Successful blocks were initiated and maintained in 24/27 who rated overall analgesia from good to excellent (19/24 very good to excellent). Three block failures occurred at the initiation phase only (two unilateral, one absent). There was no evidence of catheter kinking after placement. One patient developed PDPH after unrecognized dural puncture which was self-treated with acetaminophen for four days, followed by complete symptom resolution. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to provide high quality labour analgesia using small G epidural needles and catheters. The effect of small G epidural needles on PDPH warrants future study.