Evaluation of the Analgesic Effect of Bilateral Superficial Cervical Plexus Block for Thyroid Surgery: A Comparison of Presurgical with Postsurgical Block

Peripheral regional anaesthesia and outcomes: a narrative review of the literature from 2013 to 2023

The use of peripheral regional anaesthesia continues to increase, yet the evidence supporting its use and impact on relevant outcomes often lacks scientific rigour, especially when considering the use of specific blocks for a particular surgical indication. In this narrative review, we consider the relevant literature in a 10-yr period from 2013. We performed a literature search (MEDLINE and EMBASE) for articles reporting randomised controlled trials and other comparative trials of peripheral regional anaesthetic blocks vs systemic analgesia in adult patients undergoing surgery. We evaluated measures of effective treatment and complications. A total of 128 studies met our inclusion criteria. There remains variability in the technical conduct of blocks and the outcomes used to evaluate them. There is a considerable body of evidence to support the use of interscalene blocks for shoulder surgery. Saphenous nerve (motor-sparing) blocks provide satisfactory analgesia after knee surgery and are preferred to femoral nerve blocks which are associated with falls when patients are mobilised early as part of enhanced recovery programmes. There are additional surgical indications where the efficacy of cervical plexus, intercostal nerve, and ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve blocks have been demonstrated. In the past 10 yr, there has been a consolidation of the evidence indicating benefit of peripheral nerve blocks for specific indications. There remains great scope for rigorous, multicentre, randomised controlled trials of many peripheral nerve blocks. These would benefit from an agreed set of patient-centred outcomes.

A comparison of efficacy of parenteral and perineural dexmedetomidine with 0.25% ropivacaine for post-thyroidectomy analgesia using bilateral superficial cervical plexus block

Background and Aims

Opioids are conventionally used for post-thyroidectomy pain, regional anesthesia is becoming popular due to its feasibility and efficacy in minimizing use of opioids and hence its side effects. This study compared analgesic efficacy of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) using perineural and parenteral dexmedetomidine with 0.25% ropivacaine in thyroidectomy patients.

Material and Methods

In this double-blind study, 60 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II thyroidectomy patients, aged 18-65 years were randomized into two groups. Group A (n = 30) received BSCPB with 0.25% ropivacaine, 10 mL on each side with dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg IV infusion. Group B (n = 30) received 0.25% ropivacaine plus dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg, ten mL on each side. Duration of analgesia by measuring pain visual analog scores (VAS), total dose of analgesic requirement, Haemodynamics parameters and adverse events were recorded for 24 h. Categorical variables were analyzed using Chi-square test and continuous variables were computed as mean with standard deviation and analyzed using independent sample t-test. Mann-Whitney U test was used for analysis of ordinal variables.

Results

Time to rescue analgesia was longer in Group B (18.6 ± 3.27 h) as compared to Group A (10.2 ± 2.11 h) (P < 0.001). Total analgesic dose required was also found to be lesser in Group B (50.83 ± 20.37 mg) as compared to Group A (73.33 ± 18.27 mg) (P < 0.001). No significant hemodynamic changes or side effects were observed in both groups; (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Perineural dexmedetomidine with ropivacaine in BSCPB significantly prolonged the duration of analgesia with reduced rescue analgesic requirement.

A study to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone as an adjuvant in ultrasound-guided bilateral superficial cervical plexus block using 0.25% bupivacaine in patients undergoing thyroid surgeries under entropy-guided general anesthesia

Context:

Ultrasound-guided bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) is a technique described for thyroid surgeries for postoperative analgesia as the surgery can cause severe pain and discomfort. Perineural dexamethasone is known to prolong analgesic duration and reduce postoperative nausea/vomiting.

Aims:

To assess the efficacy of dexamethasone as an adjuvant to BSCPB with 0.25% bupivacaine on isoflurane consumption, intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing thyroid surgeries under general anesthesia.

Settings and Design:

This was a randomized control trial.

Subjects and Methods:

Eighty patients were randomized to two equal groups using random number table into Group A with BSCPB receiving 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine and Group B with BSCPB receiving 19 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine + injection dexamethasone 4 mg in the preinduction period. Hemodynamic parameters, isoflurane consumption, postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score, and antiemetic effect over 24 h were compared between two groups.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Microsoft excel data sheet, Chi-square test, and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis.

Results:

The intraoperative hemodynamic parameters were comparable between the two groups. There was a significant difference in mean VAS score between two groups from 6 h to 20 h postoperatively. The time of rescue analgesic in Group A was 7.09 ± 1.04 min and Group was 13.19 ± 1.46 min with P < 0.0001. In Group A, 40% had nausea and 35% had vomiting, and in Group B, 7.5% had nausea and 5% had vomiting.

Conclusions:

Preinduction ultrasound-guided BSCPB with bupivacaine and dexamethasone provides longer duration of postoperative analgesia and lesser nausea and vomiting compared to bupivacaine alone.

Anesthetic and Analgesic Efficient of Regional Nerve Blockade in Otoplasty

AIM

The prominent ear is the most common congenital deformity of the external ear. Otoplasty is performed to correct the appearance of the prominent ear. This study was planned to compare the analgesic and anesthetic effects of local nerve blockade and local infiltration anesthesia in the otoplasties.

METHOD

Thirty-two patients who underwent otoplasty in both ears between February 2018 and March 2019 were included in the study. Three patients were excluded because they refused regional anesthesia. In the patients included in the study, only local infiltration anesthesia was applied to 1 ear and regional nerve blockade was applied to the other ear. Regional nerve blockade was applied to the study group; local infiltration anesthesia was applied to the control group. Surgical and anesthetic complications were recorded. The onset time, duration and severity of pain were followed. Numerical evaluation scale scores were used to evaluate pain levels.

RESULTS

It was observed that the first pain of the patients On the side where regional nerve block (RNB) anesthesia was applied after an average of 10.5 hours. On the other hand on the side where local infiltration anesthesia was applied; the pain was observed to start after an average of 3.5 hours. At the 6th and 12th hours postoperatively, the scores of the numerical evaluation scale were significantly lower in the study group than the control group (P < 0.05). At the 24th-hour pain score, the values were lower in the study group, but the difference was not significant between the groups (P > 0.05). In the regional anesthesia group, can develop such as difficulty in swallowing, weakness in the neck, weakness in the upper extremity, nausea, Horner syndrome; but all side effects resolve spontaneously within 6 to 12 hours.

CONCLUSION

The application of regional anesthesia in prominent ear surgical procedures can be considered as an alternative method to provide better quality preoperative anesthesia and better quality postoperative analgesia in patients.

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.

[Perioperative analgesic efficacy of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block in patients undergoing thyroidectomy: a randomized controlled trial]

INTRODUCTION

Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) is a common method used for analgesia in thyroid surgery. We investigated the analgesic efficacy of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block in the intraoperative and postoperative periods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients (n = 46) undergoing thyroidectomy were randomly separated into the following 2 groups: the general anesthesia group (GA; n = 23) and the general anesthesia plus BSCPB group (GS; n = 23). The intraoperative analgesic requirement (remifentanil) visual analog scale (VAS) score at multiple time points during the postoperative period (after extubation, at 15 and 30 minutes and 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours post operation) were evaluated. Total tramadol and paracetamol consumption as well as the amount of ondansetron used was recorded.

RESULTS

The intraoperative remifentanil requirement was significantly lower in the GS Group than in the GA Group (p = 0.009). The postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the GS Group than in the GA Group at 15 (p < 0.01) and 30 (p < 0.01) minutes and 1 (p < 0.01), 2 (p < 0.01), 6 (p < 0.01), 12 (p < 0.01) and 24 (p = 0.03) hours. The postoperative tramadol requirement was significantly lower in the GS Group than in the GA Group (p = 0.01). The number of patients that used ondansetron was significantly lower in the GS Group than in the GA Group (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

We concluded that BSCPB with 0.25% bupivacaine reduces the postoperative pain intensity and opioid dependency in thyroid surgery patients.

Wound infiltration with bupivacaine 0.5% with or without adrenaline does not decrease pain after thyroidectomy. A randomized controlled study

Objectives:

To study the effect of local wound infiltration with and without adrenaline on pain perception after thyroidectomy using the visual analog score (VAS).

Methods:

A prospective randomized controlled double-blinded study was conducted between May 2015 and June 2016 at The University of Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan. Eighty-nine patients undergoing planned thyroidectomy were included in the study. Patients were divided randomly into 3 groups: Group A, local wound infiltration with bupivacaine 0.5% was administered; Group B, bupivacaine 0.5% with adrenaline was administered; Group C (control), no infiltration was performed. Standardized thyroidectomies were performed in the 3 groups. Pain perception was measured using VAS at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. A comparison between the 3 groups was carried out.

Results:

No significant differences among the 3 groups were observed at all time points (p=0.246). Visual analog scores were significantly lower at 12 and 24 hours after operations.

Conclusion:

Local wound infiltration with bupivacaine 0.5% does not decrease pain perception after thyroidectomy performed under general anesthesia, and adding adrenaline does not enhance its effect.

Effectiveness of Bilateral Superficial Cervical Plexus Block as Part of Postoperative Analgesia for Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy in Empress Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction

The pain after thyroid surgery is considered of moderate intensity and short duration. Most trials showed significant reduction in pain intensity and severity of pain in patients for whom bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) was done.

Objective

To assess the postoperative analgesic effect of BSCPB for thyroid surgery.

Methods

Sixty six euthyroid patients were recruited and assigned to two groups (33 patients each). Group 1 BSCPB and Group 2 standard analgesia. The unpaired Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used for comparison. Statistical significance was stated at p value < 0.05.

Results

The median postoperative pain score (NRS) was 3 in the BSCPB group and 5 in the control group (p=0.002). There was also statistically significant difference at 6th, 12th, and 24th hour showing a lower median pain score in the BSCPB group compared to the control group. The median time was (360 minutes) in the treatment group and (180 minutes) in the control group (p=0.0006). The median tramadol consumption within 24 hours is 0 mg in the BSCPB group compared to 100 mg in the control group (p=0.001).

Conclusion and Recommendation

BSCPB done for thyroidectomy under general anesthesia decreases the postoperative pain score, total analgesia consumption, and time to first analgesia request.