Effect of opioid-free anaesthesia on postoperative epidural ropivacaine requirement after thoracic surgery: A retrospective unmatched case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing thoracic surgery are at risk of severe postoperative pain. Post-thoracotomy pain relief is usually provided with thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA). Intraoperative use of opioids may result in hyperalgesia and increase analgesics consumption. We investigated the effect of opioid-free anaesthesia (OFA) on epidural ropivacaine requirement after thoracotomy. METHODS: This retrospective study compared postoperative epidural ropivacaine requirement of patients undergoing open thoracotomy and receiving either opioid-based anaesthesia (OBA group) or a non-opioid regimen including clonidine, ketamine and lidocaine (OFA group). All patients received postoperative multimodal analgesia including both epidural analgesia and intravenous analgesics. The primary outcome was the cumulative first 48 postoperative hours epidural ropivacaine consumption. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores, requirement for postoperative morphine titration, total opioid analgesics consumption within the first 48 postoperative hours, incidence of nausea and vomiting, intraoperative haemodynamic. RESULTS: From January 2015 to February 2018, 50 patients received an OBA and 25 received an OFA. The cumulative first 48 postoperative hours epidural ropivacaine consumption was significantly higher in the OBA-group (919 ± 311 mg versus 693 ± 270 mg, P = 0.002). Numerical Rating Scale at 6 and 24 h were significantly lower in the OFA-group (1[0-2] versus 3 [1-5], P = 0.0005 and 1[0-2] versus 3.5 [1-5], P = 0.001). In post-anaesthesia care unit, the proportion of patients requiring morphine was significantly higher in the OBA-group (42% versus 4%, P < 0.001). During anaesthesia, the OBA-group required more vasopressor support, while there were more hypertensive events in the OFA-group. CONCLUSION: OFA might reduce ropivacaine consumption, early postoperative pain scores and requirement for morphine titration after thoracotomy.

Comparison of the McGrath® MAC video laryngoscope with direct Macintosh laryngoscopy for novice laryngoscopists in children without difficult intubation: A randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Airway management and tracheal intubation are routinely performed in paediatric anaesthesia and yet are associated with preventable adverse events. The McGrath® MAC is a video laryngoscope with a curved blade similar to the Macintosh blade, which has not been previously described in first intention paediatric tracheal intubation. We aimed to compare direct laryngoscopy to the McGrath® MAC video laryngoscope among novice laryngoscopists. METHODS: Six paediatric anaesthesia residents with novice skills in paediatric laryngoscopy were randomly assigned to perform tracheal intubation using either direct Macintosh laryngoscopy (DL) or the McGrath® MAC video laryngoscope (MM) as the first attempted device in children weighing between 10 and 20kg without difficult intubation. RESULTS: Our study enrolled 132 children between August 2013 and April 2015. The time to intubation was shorter in the DL group (n=67) compared to the MM group (n=65) with 42s (35-50) versus 48s (43-58) P=0.002. The time to best view was similar between the two groups (10s [7-16] versus 10s [8-15]; P=0.50). The tube passage time was shorter with DL (29s [25-35] versus 35s [30-45]; P=0.0002) and either Cormak & Lehane grade or Percentage Of Glottis Opening (POGO) scores were similar between groups. Minor reversible respiratory adverse events were similar between groups: 12 in the DL group (17.9%) versus 12 in the MM group (18.5%). DISCUSSION: McGrath® MAC video laryngoscopy, when performed by a novice laryngoscopist on easy-to-intubate children, is associated with longer intubation times.