The Impact of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol on Length of Stay.

BACKGROUND: Multimodal, narcotic-sparing analgesic strategies are an important part of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols. Within such protocols, regional anesthetics have proven to be superior to narcotics. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the transversus abdominis plane block within an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol on length of stay. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent colorectal surgery in 2015 to 2016 was completed. The primary end points for this analysis were total length of stay and total narcotics consumed during hospitalization. Length of stay and total narcotic use were compared for patients who received a transversus abdominis plane block versus those that did not. DATA SOURCE: The data were obtained from the data warehouse of a university teaching hospital. SETTINGS: This study took place at a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: The patients were 18 years or older. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes measured were length of stay and the total narcotics used. RESULTS: A total of 347 patients underwent colorectal procedures under the enhanced recovery protocol. Among these, 186 (54%) received a transversus abdominis plane block. Overall, the mean length of stay was 5.8 days (SD ±5.6), and median length of stay was 4 days. These values compare to a mean length of stay of 9.6 days and median length of stay of 7 days before implementing the enhanced recovery protocol. Patients who received a transversus abdominis plane block had a mean length of stay of 5.1 days compared to 6.6 days for those who did not receive one (p < 0.01). Patients who received a transversus abdominis plane block consumed 736.5 morphine milligram equivalents of opioids compared to 1150.3 morphine milligram equivalents of opioid consumed by those without a transversus abdominis plane block (p < 0.05), a 36% decrease in opioid use. When comparing patients who had a mean length of stay of 4 days with those whose length of stay was >4 days, there was an 80% decrease in opioid use. The readmission rate was 7.8%. LIMITATIONS: The lack of randomization of patients was a limitation of this study. CONCLUSION: The use of transversus abdominis plane block in the setting of a well-structured enhanced recovery protocol was associated with a statistically significant decrease in length of stay by 1.5 days and a 36% decrease in narcotic use. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B432. IMPACTO DE LA ANESTESIA DEL PLANO MUSCULAR DE LOS TRANSVERSOS ABDOMINALES EN LA ESTADA DENTRO UN PROTOCOLO ERAS: ANTECEDENTES:La estrategia analgésica multimodal que consume poco medicamento de tipo narcótico es parte importante en los protocolos de recuperación mejorada postoperatoria. Dentro de dichos protocolos, los anestésicos regionales han demostrado ser superiores a la administración de medicamentos narcóticos.OBJETIVO:Estudiar el impacto del bloqueo del plano muscular de los transversos del abdomen sobre la duración de la estadía dentro de un protocolo de recuperación mejorada postoperatoria.DISEÑO:Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo de los pacientes que se sometieron a cirugía colorrectal entre 2015-2016. Los criterios principales de valoración en el presente análisis fueron la duración total de la estadía y el total de medicamentos narcóticos consumidos durante la hospitalización. Se comparó la duración de la estadía y el uso total de narcóticos en los pacientes que recibieron un bloqueo anestésico del plano muscular de los transversos del abdomen con los que no lo recibieron.FUENTE DE DATOS:Banco de datos de un hospital universitario docente.AMBIENTE:Hospital Universitario Docente.PACIENTES:Adultos desde los 18 años o mayores.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Duración de la estadía, cantidad total de medicamentos narcóticos administrados.RESULTADOS:Un total de 347 pacientes se sometieron a procedimientos colorrectales bajo el protocolo ERAS. Entre ellos, 186 (54%) recibieron un bloqueo del plano muscular de los transversos del abdomen. En la globalidad, la duración media de la estadía fué de 5,8 días (DE ± 5,6) y la duración media de la estadía fué de 4 días. Estos resultados fueron comparados con la estadía media de 9,6 días y una estadía media de 7 días antes de implementar el protocolo ERAS. Los pacientes que recibieron un bloqueo del plano muscular de los transversos del abdomen tuvieron una estadía media de 5,1 días en comparación con los 6,6 días de los que no recibieron el mencionado bloqueo (p <0,01). Los pacientes que recibieron el bloqueo del plano muscular consumieron 736,5 miligramos de morfina o su equivalente en opioides, comparados con los 1150,3 de aquellos sin bloqueo del plano muscular (p <0,05) lo que significó una disminución del 36% en la administración de opioides. Al comparar los pacientes que tuvieron una estadía media de 4 días con aquellos cuya estadía fue mayor a 4 días, se evidenció una disminución en el 80% de la administración de opioides. La tasa de reingreso fue del 7,8%.LIMITACIONES:Estudio sin sin aleatorización de pacientes.CONCLUSIÓN:El bloqueo anestésico del plano muscular de los transversos del abdomen dentro un contexto protocolar tipo ERAS o de recuperación mejorada bien estructurada, se asoció con la disminución estadísticamente significativa de la duración de la estadía en 1,5 días y una disminución del 36% en la administración de medicamentos narcóticos. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B432.

Rapid Recovery After Total Joint Arthroplasty Using General Anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Multiple papers have purported the superiority of spinal anesthesia used in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). However, there is a paucity of data available for modern general anesthesia (GA) regimens used at high-volume joint replacement centers. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a series of 1527 consecutive primary TJAs (644 total hip arthroplasties and 883 total knee arthroplasties) performed over a 3-year span at a single institution that uses a contemporary GA protocol and report on the length of stay, early recovery rates, perioperative complications, and readmissions. RESULTS: From the elective TJAs performed using a modern GA protocol, 96.3% (n = 1471) of patients discharged on postoperative day 1, and 97.2% (n = 1482) of subjects were able to participate with physical therapy on the day of surgery. Only 6 patients (0.4%) required an intensive care unit stay postoperatively. The 90-day readmission rate over this time was 2.4% (n = 36), while the reoperation rate was 1.3% (n = 20). DISCUSSION: Neuraxial anesthesia for TJA is commonly preferred in high-volume institutions utilizing contemporary enhanced recovery pathways. Our data support the notion that the utilization of modern GA techniques that limit narcotics and certain inhalants can be successfully used in short-stay primary total joint arthroplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV- Case series.

Pectointercostal Fascial Block Catheters for Thoracic Injuries: A Case Series.

Providing analgesia for patients with anterior rib and sternum fracture has been addressed from various types of modalities. Regional anesthesia via epidurals or peripheral nerve blocks, opiates, and other forms of multimodal pain regimens have been used. However, in the polytraumatic injury patient, positioning for an epidural may be problematic, and a predominantly opiate-based treatment plan may compromise respiratory status. In this case series, we describe the pectointercostal fascial block as another tool to treat patients with anterior rib and sternal fracture with polytraumatic injuries. All 3 of the block's successes were evident by improvement in the respiratory status of each patient.

Transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block for the treatment of postdural puncture headache in obstetric patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate a possible alternative treatment for postdural puncture headache (PDPH). DESIGN: Postdural puncture headache is a common complication associated with neuraxial anesthesia and unintentional dural puncture. Epidural blood patch (EBP) is the standard therapy for PDPH but has risks including pain, dural puncture, and infection. Transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) has been successfully used to treat migraine, cluster headache, and trigeminal neuralgia. This is a small case series in which SPGB was used to treat PDPH in 3 obstetric patients. SETTING: Labor and delivery suite. PATIENTS: Three postpartum patients with PDPH were studied. One patient was American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1, and the other 2 were American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 2. INTERVENTIONS: Transnasal SPGB using cotton-tipped applicators and 2% viscous lidocaine was performed on all 3 patients. MEASUREMENTS: Height, weight, and vital signs were measured on all patients. In addition, the numeric rating scale (0-10) was used to quantify the pain level while in the sitting position preprocedure, immediately postprocedure, 24 hours postprocedure, and 48 hours postprocedure. MAIN RESULTS: All 3 patients had significant pain relief following the SPGB without the need for EBP. CONCLUSIONS: When comparing the risks of a transnasal SPGB, which include bleeding and temporary discomfort, against those of an EBP, which are documented as dural puncture, neurologic complications, bleeding, and infection, it seems reasonable to offer the SPGB before EBP.

Increased frequency of HLA-B44 in recurrent sinopulmonary infections (RESPI).

To test whether MHC alleles associated with common variable immune deficiency (CVID) might also be over-represented in patients with normal serum immunoglobulin levels who suffer with recurrent sinopulmonary infections (RESPI), we identified 62 consecutive RESPI patients and compared their HLA-B and HLA-DR antigen frequencies to those of 60 consecutive patients with CVID, 1627 Alabama Caucasian bone marrow donors, and 997,230 published US Caucasians. Either HLA-B44, -B8, -DR3(17), or -DR7 was present in 74% of the RESPI and 85% of the CVID patients. HLA-B44 prevalence in particular proved identical between RESPI and CVID. When compared to US Caucasians, the increased prevalence of the four HLA alleles proved significant at P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P = 0.0005, and P = 0.02, respectively. When compared to Alabama Caucasians, only the increased prevalence of HLA-B44 achieved statistical significance (P = 0.0001). Inheritance of HLA-B44 may yield susceptibility to recurrent sinopulmonary infection even in the presence of normal serum immunoglobulin levels.