Comparación de 2 protocolos analgésicos en el control del dolor postamigdalectomía en pacientes adultos ambulatorios

Opioid and non-opioid analgesic prescribing practices for pediatric adenotonsillectomy in a tertiary care center

IMPORTANCE

The U.S. is in an opioid epidemic with greater than 40,000 deaths annually. Pediatric adenotonsillectomy is one of the most common and painful otolaryngology surgeries performed, often associated with opioid prescriptions.

OBJECTIVE

To understand postoperative prescribing practices of adenotonsillectomy in a tertiary care institution and associated postoperative emergency department (ED) visits.

DESIGN

Descriptive analysis of retrospective cohort data.

SETTING

Tertiary academic healthcare institution.

PARTICIPANTS

Pediatric patients <18yo undergoing adenotonsillectomy between 2013 and 2016.

INTERVENTIONS/EXPOSURES

Postoperative analgesic regimens assessed including opioid and non-opioid analgesic prescriptions upon discharge from tonsillectomy surgery.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Main outcomes included ED presentation within 30-days of surgery and reoperation. Secondary outcomes included reason for ED presentation and relation to prescribed analgesics. Data was analyzed between November 2021-February 2022.

RESULTS

200 patients were included in the study with 69% prescribed opioids, and 51% prescribed non-opioid analgesics. Number of opioid doses ranged widely with a median of 37 (Q1, Q3: 0, 62). There were no demographic differences in patients prescribed opioids from those who were not. Of those patients who presented to the ED, 81% were not specifically prescribed acetaminophen (p < 0.001). Regression analysis models were not predictive of postoperative analgesic regimen or 30-day ED presentation (p > 0.05) CONCLUSIONS: Wide ranges of post tonsillectomy prescribing practices currently exist in our institution. Prescribing acetaminophen may help to reduce 30-day ED presentation rate. Larger prospective studies are needed to optimize pain control regimens and reduce variability of opioid prescribing practices. Standardization of postoperative pain medication doses may also reduce postoperative ED presentations.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Opioid Prescribing for Analgesia After Common Otolaryngology Operations

OBJECTIVE

Opioid use disorder (OUD), which includes the morbidity of dependence and mortality of overdose, has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Overprescription of opioids can lead to chronic use and misuse, and unused narcotics after surgery can lead to their diversion. Research supports that most patients do not take all the prescribed opioids after surgery and that surgeons are the second largest prescribers of opioids in the United States. The introduction of opioids in those with OUD often begins with prescription opioids. Reducing the number of extra opioids available after surgery through smaller prescriptions, safe storage, and disposal should reduce the risk of opioid use disorder in otolaryngology patients and their families.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this specialty-specific guideline is to identify quality improvement opportunities in postoperative pain management of common otolaryngologic surgical procedures. These opportunities are communicated through clear actionable statements with explanation of the support in the literature, evaluation of the quality of the evidence, and recommendations on implementation. Employing these action statements should reduce the variation in care across the specialty and improve postoperative pain control while reducing risk of OUD. The target patients for the guideline are any patients treated for anticipated or reported pain within the first 30 days after undergoing common otolaryngologic procedures. The target audience of the guideline is otolaryngologists who perform surgery and clinicians who manage pain after surgical procedures. Outcomes to be considered include whether the patient has stopped using opioids, has disposed of unused opioids, and was satisfied with the pain management plan.The guideline addresses assessment of the patient for OUD risk factors, counseling on pain expectations, and identifying factors that can affect pain duration and/or severity. It also discusses the use of multimodal analgesia as first-line treatment and the responsible use of opioids. Last, safe disposal of unused opioids is discussed.This guideline is intended to focus on evidence-based quality improvement opportunities judged most important by the guideline development group. It is not a comprehensive guide on pain management in otolaryngologic procedures. The statements in this guideline are not intended to limit or restrict care provided by clinicians based on their experiences and assessments of individual patients.

ACTION STATEMENTS

The guideline development group made strong recommendations for the following key action statements: (3A) prior to surgery, clinicians should identify risk factors for opioid use disorder when analgesia using opioids is anticipated; (6) clinicians should advocate for nonopioid medications as first-line management of pain after otolaryngologic surgery; (9) clinicians should recommend that patients (or their caregivers) store prescribed opioids securely and dispose of unused opioids through take-back programs or another accepted method.The guideline development group made recommendations for the following key action statements: (1) prior to surgery, clinicians should advise patients and others involved in the postoperative care about the expected duration and severity of pain; (2) prior to surgery, clinicians should gather information specific to the patient that modifies severity and/or duration of pain; (3B) in patients at risk for OUD, clinicians should evaluate the need to modify the analgesia plan; (4) clinicians should promote shared decision making by informing patients of the benefits and risks of postoperative pain treatments that include nonopioid analgesics, opioid analgesics, and nonpharmacologic interventions; (5) clinicians should develop a multimodal treatment plan for managing postoperative pain; (7) when treating postoperative pain with opioids, clinicians should limit therapy to the lowest effective dose and the shortest duration; (8A) clinicians should instruct patients and caregivers how to communicate if pain is not controlled or if medication side effects occur; (8B) clinicians should educate patients to stop opioids when pain is controlled with nonopioids and stop all analgesics when pain has resolved; (10) clinicians should inquire, within 30 days of surgery, whether the patient has stopped using opioids, has disposed of unused opioids, and was satisfied with the pain management plan.

Does topical use of autologous serum help to reduce post-tonsillectomy morbidity? A prospective, controlled preliminary study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the effects of autologous serum usage on throat pain, haemorrhage and tonsillar fossa epithelisation in patients after tonsillectomy.

METHODS

Thirty-two patients (aged 4-15 years) were included in the study. Tonsillectomy was performed and autologous serum was administered topically to the right tonsillar fossa during the operation, and at 8 and 24 hours post-operatively. The left side served as the control. A visual analogue scale was used to record the patient's pain every day. Each patient's oropharynx was observed on the 5th and 10th post-operative days to examine bleeding and epithelisation.

RESULTS

The pain scores for the side administered autologous serum were significantly lower than those for the control side, on the night following the operation and on the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th post-operative days. Tonsillar fossa epithelisation was significantly accelerated on the study side compared with the control side on the 5th and 10th post-operative days.

CONCLUSION

In tonsillectomy patients, topically administered autologous serum contributed to throat pain relief and tonsillar fossa epithelisation during the post-operative period.

Effectiveness of hyaluronic acid in post-tonsillectomy pain relief and wound healing: a prospective, double-blind, controlled clinical study

OBJECTIVES

To find the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid in post-tonsillectomy pain relief and wound healing.

METHODS

Fifty patients were included in this prospective, double-blind, controlled clinical study (20 males, 30 females mean age of 13.56 years). Hyaluronic acid was applied to one side and the other side was used as a control during tonsillectomy. Therefore, the same patient evaluated and scored the post-tonsillectomy pain, excluding individual bias.

RESULTS

Results indicated that patients had significantly lower pain scores for hyaluronic acid treated side (p<0.001). At the end of two weeks follow-up period, the wound in the hyaluronic acid side was almost completely healed, indicating that the healing was faster with hyaluronic acid compared to control side (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Hyaluronic acid could be recommended as an effective treatment for the management of post-tonsillectomy pain and wound healing.

Factors related to post-tonsillectomy pain in adults

OBJECTIVE

Assessment of factors related to pharyngeal anatomy and surgical technique as possible causes of post-tonsillectomy pain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a prospective observational study that included 42 patients undergoing tonsillectomy with cold and monopolar electric device dissection. We recorded duration of the entire operation, duration of electrocautery use, tonsil size and postoperative pain and discomfort assessed using a visual analogue scale (VS) and a 40-item questionnaire (QoR-40, Quality of Recovery), along with sequelae on returning to normal diet, weight loss and hospital stay. Correlations among quantitative variables were obtained by mean of lineal regression coefficients.

RESULTS

Duration of surgery was 22.66 ± 7.07 minutes, removing tonsils with a volume of 6046.07 ± 3866.20 mm(3) and an electrocautery use time of 66.14 ± 37.77 seconds, applying 1984.24 ± 1133.32 joules per patient. The most frequently observed Mallampati classification and tonsil size scores were stages II and III. The VS score increased and QoR-40 decreased at 24 hours and 7 days, but differences were statistically non-significant. Joule amount used for electrocautery was the parameter that correlated the best with discomfort status as measured via assessment scores, analgesic and corticosteroid requirements, weight loss and hospital stay. Pain was higher in subjects submitted to peritonsillar surgical aggression.

CONCLUSIONS

Improved use of electrodissection techniques, limiting and focusing the application of its energy, and preservation of peritonsillar mucosa are factors that may lower post-tonsillectomy pain levels.