Ultrasound-guided bilateral superficial cervical block and preemptive single-dose oral tizanidine for post-thyroidectomy pain: a randomized-controlled double-blind study

Post-thyroidectomy bilateral cervical plexus block relieves pain: a systematic review

PURPOSE

To assess the effectiveness of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) in treating post-thyroidectomy pain.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, LILACS, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were extensively searched. The search period extended from 1968 until December 2022. Randomized controlled trials comparing BSCPB to placebo, no block in patients with thyroidectomy for benign or malignant thyroid disease were included. Outcomes were pain in the first 24 h after surgery. Analgesic rescue, period before the first rescue dosage, and 24-h opioid usage were secondary outcomes. The RoB 2 instrument was used to evaluate the risk of bias.

RESULTS

34 of 354 studies were eligible. There were 2,519 patients. BSCPB reduced the intensity of pain postoperatively [SMD: - 1.17 (95% CI: - 1.54 to - 0.81)] and in the first 24 h [- 0.62 (95%: 0.91 to 0.33)]. A considerable delay for the first opioid dose, rescue analgesics, and postoperative opioid usage was also found.

CONCLUSION

BSCPB's 24-h analgesic efficacy minimizes the requirement for rescue analgesia, postoperative opioid intake, and rescue analgesia start time. The choice of anesthetic and different application methods might affect its effectiveness.

Nonopioid Versus Opioid Analgesics After Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether nonopioid analgesic regimens, taken after discharge for thyroid and parathyroid surgery have noninferior pain outcomes in comparison to opioid analgesic regimens. Secondarily, we sought to determine if nonopioid analgesic regimens decrease the number of opioid medications taken after thyroid and parathyroid surgery, and to assess adverse events associated with opioid versus nonopioid regimens.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane.

REVIEW METHODS

A comprehensive search of the literature was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines, and identified 1299 nonduplicate articles for initial review of which 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified as meeting all eligibility criteria. Meta-analysis was not conducted due to heterogeneity in the data and statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Both RCTs included in this systematic review found no significant differences in postoperative pain scores between individuals discharged with a nonopioid only analgesic regimen compared to analgesic regimen that included oral opioid medications. One study reported significantly increased number of postoperative calls related specifically to pain in the nonopioid arm compared to the opioid arm (15.6% vs. 3.2%, P = .045).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review of RCTs revealed a limited number of studies examining nonopioid versus opioid postoperative pain medications among adults who undergo thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Among the 2 RCTs on this topic, there is a shared finding that nonopioid analgesic regimens are noninferior to opioid analgesic regimens in managing postoperative pain after thyroid and parathyroid surgery, supporting the use of nonopioid pain regimens given the risk of opioid dependence associated with prescription opioid medications.

Does adding muscle relaxant make post-operative pain better? a narrative review of the literature from US and European studies

Centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants (CASMR) are widely prescribed as adjuncts for acute and chronic pain. Given the recent interest in multimodal analgesia and reducing opioid consumption, there has been an increase in its use for perioperative/postoperative pain control. The mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of these drugs vary. Their use has been studied in a wide range of operative and non-operative settings. The best evidence for the efficacy of CASMRs is in acute, nonoperative musculoskeletal pain and, in the operative setting, in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and abdominal surgery, including inguinal herniorrhaphy and hemorrhoidectomy. The risk of complications and side effects, coupled with the limited evidence of efficacy, should prompt careful consideration of individual patient circumstances when prescribing CASMRs as part of perioperative pain management strategies.

The analgesic effects of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block in thyroid surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and Aims

Thyroid surgery is moderately painful, and many techniques to reduce postoperative pain have been studied. Regional techniques are a part of multimodal analgesia employed for various surgical cases. Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) is a commonly used regional anaesthesia technique for analgesia for thyroid surgery. A previous meta-analysis by this group had left questions about some facets of the technique, to which further trials have contributed.

Methods

The systematic review and meta-analysis was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) CRD42022315499. It is an update to a previously published paper in 2018. An updated systematic search, critical appraisal, and analysis of clinical trials were performed. Trials investigating preoperative or postoperative BSCPB compared to control in patients undergoing thyroid surgery were included in the search. The primary outcome was postoperative opioid consumption. The secondary outcomes were the duration of analgesia (time to request of analgesia), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores at 0, 4, 12, and 24 h, postoperatively, rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postoperative rescue analgesic consumption, and intraoperative morphine use.

Results

A total of 31 studies and 2,273 patients were included in this analysis. BSCPB significantly reduced post-thyroidectomy opioid consumption (P < 0.001). Additionally, the duration of analgesia was prolonged following BSCPB. VAS scores for 24 h (postoperatively), intraoperative morphine use, and rescue analgesia (postoperatively) remained significantly lower in patients who received BSCPB. There was also a statistically significant reduction in PONV (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

BSCPB offers superior postoperative analgesia with a reduction in opioid use, reduction in PONV, and improvement in VAS scores.

Efficacy and safety of oral tizanidine premedication as pre-emptive analgesia in adult patients undergoing elective surgeries- A systematic review

Tizanidine is a centrally acting α2 agonist which has been used as a premedication due to its opioid-sparing and sympatholytic properties. This systematic review assessed the safety and feasibility of oral tizanidine. After registering the protocol with PROSPERO (CRD42022368546), randomized controlled trials and non-randomized observational studies were searched in various databases. The primary outcome was intraoperative opioid use; the secondary outcomes were 24-hr opioid consumption, pain scores, time to rescue analgesia, and adverse events. The risk of bias scale was used to assess the quality of evidence. Out of 202 studies identified, five studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Intraoperative opioid consumption was significantly less in the tizanidine group (MD: -2.40; 95% CI: -4.22, -0.59; P = 0.010; I2 = 0 %). The 24-hr opioid consumption was comparable between both groups (MD: -42.53, 95% CI: -91.45, 6.39; P = 0.09; I2 = 99%). Time to rescue analgesia was comparable between both groups (MD: 308.22; 95% CI: -263.67, 880.11, P = 0.29, I2 = 100%). Pain scores at 6 and 12 hours were comparable (MD: -1.37; 95% CI: -3.68, 0.94; P = 0.24; I2 = 97%) and (MD: -1.76; 95% CI: -4.06, 0.53; P = 0.13; I2 = 95%); however, at 24 hours the scores were better in the tizanidine group (MD: -1.10; 95% CI: -1.50, -0.69; P < 0.0001 I2 = 0%). Although dry mouth was significantly more in the tizanidine group (MD: 5.35; 95% CI: 1.72, 16.62; P = 0.004; I2 = 0%), postoperative nausea/vomiting and dizziness were comparable. Tizanidine reduces intraoperative opioid consumption without significant adverse events. However, it does not provide effective opioid-sparing analgesia or reduced opioid requirement in the first 24 hours after surgery.

Muscle relaxants as adjunctive analgesics in the perioperative setting: A review of the literature

Patients undergoing surgical procedures are one of the few populations that still require substantial doses of opioid medications to provide analgesia, despite the best efforts of clinicians to integrate non-opioid adjunctive analgesics into practice. While many options exist with varying degrees of evidence, one drug class that deserves renewed consideration are muscle relaxants. Although these medications have differing mechanisms of action and require a more thorough evaluation of patient parameters prior to administration as opposed to other adjunctive analgesics, it is readily apparent by the results of this review that these agents may be able to mitigate pain and limit opioid usage. The objective of this review was to determine the efficacy and safety of adjunctive muscle relaxers for the purposes of analgesia in the perioperative setting.

Is Preemptive Oral Tizanidine Effective on Postoperative Pain Intensity after Bimaxillary Orthognathic Surgery? A Triple-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background:

We aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative administration of oral tizanidine on postoperative pain intensity after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.

Methods:

All healthy skeletal class III patients who were candidates for bimaxillary orthognathic surgery were enrolled in this triple-blind randomized clinical trial. The study was carried out in the Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Qaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran; from January 2021 to November 2021. The consecutive patients were randomly divided into tizanidine and placebo groups. One hour prior to anesthesia induction, the tizanidine group received 4 mg Tizanidine dissolved in 10 ml apple juice, whereas the placebo group received an identical glass of plain apple juice. All operations were performed by the same surgical team, under the same general anesthesia protocol. Postoperative pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours. For statistical analysis; the significance level was set at 0.05 using SPSS 23.

Results:

A total of 60 consecutive patients, consisting of 36 females (60%) and 24 males (40%) with an average age of 25.4 ± 6.0 were recruited. An increasing trend was noticed in the amount of perceived postoperative pain from the 3^rd till 12^th hour, and then decreased afterward. Nevertheless, the average amount of pain was significantly lower in the tizanidine compared to the placebo group, in all the evaluated time intervals (P<0.001). Moreover, there was a significantly higher requirement for postoperative opioid analgesics in the placebo compared to the tizanidine group (P=0.011).

Conclusion:

The addition of oral tizanidine was effective in reducing postoperative pain following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Further studies are necessary for more relevancy.

Perioperative pain management for thyroid and parathyroid surgery: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

A growing body of evidence suggests that surgeons have historically over-prescribed opioid pain medications following thyroid and parathyroid surgery, thereby potentially contributing to the current US opioid epidemic. We reviewed the evidence supporting multimodal methods of pain control after cervical endocrine surgery.

METHODS

Fifty-one randomized clinical trials, 9 prospective cohort studies, 7 retrospective studies/reviews, and 1 survey regarding pain management for cervical endocrine surgery were include.

RESULTS

Most studies reported in-hospital pain scores and opioid consumption. Data on pain scores following discharge were limited. In several studies, the interventional dose was much greater than what is commonly used clinically.

CONCLUSION

Several evidence-based, non-opioid interventions can be incorporated into a standardized pain management protocol following cervical endocrine surgery. Little is known regarding the effects of these interventions on post-discharge pain scores and patient quality of life during recovery.

Peripheral nerve blocks in the cervical region: from anatomy to ultrasound-guided techniques

Cervical plexus nerve blocks have been employed in various head and neck operations. Both adequate anaesthesia and analgesia are attained in clinical practice. Nowadays, ultrasound imaging in regional anaesthesia is driven towards a certain objective that dictates high accuracy and safety during the implementation of peripheral nerve blocks. In the cervical region, ultrasound-guided nerve blocks have routinely been conducted only for the past few years and thus only a small number of publications pervade the current literature. Moreover, the sonoanatomy of the neck, the foundation stone of interventional techniques, is very challenging; multiple muscles and fascial layers compose a complex of compartments in a narrow anatomic region, in which local anaesthetics are injected. Therefore, this review intends to deliver new insights into ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block techniques in the neck. The sonoanatomy of the cervical region, in addition to the cervical plexus, cervical ganglia, superior and recurrent laryngeal nerve blocks are comprehensively discussed.

The effect of bupivacaine on postoperative pain following thyroidectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Thyroid surgery, which is usually followed by moderate postoperative pain, has gained increasing attention in recent years. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effect of prophylactic bupivacaine on postoperative pain following thyroidectomy.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for specific keywords. RevMan 5.0 and Stata 12.0 software were used to perform meta-analyses. The endpoints were postoperative pain, rescue analgesic requirement, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) during the immediate 24 h postoperative period.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

A total of 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 1308 patients were included in the meta-analysis. A significant reduction of pain according to the postoperative pain scale at 1 hour (P<0.05) and rescue analgesic requirement (P<0.05) was observed following local infiltration with bupivacaine. A bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) with bupivacaine also significantly reduced postoperative pain at 1 hour (P<0.01) and 24 hours (P<0.01), as well as rescue analgesic requirement (P<0.00001) and PONV (P<0.01). Compared with BSCPB, local infiltration with bupivacaine provides a better effect in terms of postoperative analgesia (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend local infiltration with bupivacaine ranged from 20 to 75 mg before or after skin closure or BSCPB with bupivacaine ranged from 25 to 100 mg to reduce postoperative pain after thyroidectomy.

Perioperative Analgesia for Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy: An Evidence-Based Review

Objective:

To perform an evidence-based systematic review evaluating perioperative analgesia, including opioid alternatives, used for patients undergoing thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature search from 1997 to January 2018 of Pubmed, Cochrane, and EmBase libraries was performed for studies reporting analgesic administration following thyroid or parathyroid surgery. This systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were evaluated for level of evidence and given a Jadad score to assess for risk of bias. Outcomes gathered included postoperative pain scores, time to rescue analgesia, rescue analgesic consumption, and adverse events.

Results:

Thirty-eight randomized controlled trials met inclusion criteria. The GRADE criteria determined the overall evidence to be moderate-high. Studies utilizing NSAIDs reported reduced requirements for rescue analgesics. Acetaminophen studies presented with conflicting data on effectiveness. Gabapentinoid studies demonstrated lower pain scores and an increased time to rescue analgesic. Local anesthetics were effective at decreasing Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores while also reducing rescue analgesic consumption. Ketamine was shown to increased postoperative nausea and vomiting. NSAIDs and local anesthetic studies had an aggregate grade of evidence A, while all others had grade B evidence.

Conclusion:

There is significant evidence supporting the use of NSAIDs and local anesthetics in the perioperative period for pain management for thyroid and parathyroid surgeries. Acetaminophen, gabapentinoid and ketamine have some supporting evidence and may serve as adequate alternatives. Further multi-institutional RCTs are warranted to delineate optimal analgesic regimens.

Level of Evidence:

NA

The analgesic efficacy of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block for thyroid surgery under general anesthesia: a prospective cohort study

Objective

Uses of simple analgesics were found insufficient to manage pain after thyroid surgery. We hypothesized that using bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) might influence the pattern of immediate postoperative pain and analgesic consumption. The general objective of the study was to assess the analgesic efficacy of bilateral superficial plexus block for thyroid surgery under general anesthesia.

Results

A total of 74 willing patients involved. Half of them had received BSCPB with 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine just before induction and the remaining half did not. Postoperatively, patients were assessed at immediate, 2nd, 6th, 12th and 24th h. At all endpoints, NRS-11 scores for pain were significantly lower in the block group. The time to first analgesic requirement was significantly longer 132.3 ± 71.5 min vs 71.4 ± 60.0 min, p = 0.009. Opioid and total analgesic consumption were reduced by BSCPB in the first 24 postoperative hours. There was low but non-significant rate of PONV in the block group. No clinically important adverse event was noted related to BSCPB.

Trial registration The study was registered in Pan African Clinical Trial Registry on 13/01/2020 and the registration number is PACTR202001579588451. Retrospectively registered.