Pre-medication with Gabapentin is associated with significant reductions in nausea and vomiting after shoulder arthroscopy: A meta-analysis

Does preoperative gabapentin or intraoperative ketorolac influence postoperative pain following hip arthroscopy?

Optimization of perioperative analgesia has important implications for patient satisfaction and short-term outcomes. This study's purpose is to assess if preoperative gabapentin or intraoperative ketorolac influences postoperative pain or time to discharge following hip arthroscopy. In total, 409 patients who underwent hip arthroscopic femoroplasty and/or acetabuloplasty with a single surgeon for femoroacetabular impingement were retrospectively reviewed (September 2017 to February 2021). The effect of preoperative gabapentin or intraoperative ketorolac on postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, perioperative opioids in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), time in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), second-stage recovery and time to discharge was assessed using unadjusted and adjusted t-tests, and generalized linear models controlling for operative time, traction time, preoperative MME, intraoperative MME and postoperative MME were compared between the groups of gabapentin to no gabapentin and ketorolac to no ketorolac. There was no difference in first PACU VAS pain score, final PACU VAS score, VAS pain score prior to discharge, average VAS pain score or pain level on follow-up call in the unadjusted or adjusted analysis for the preoperative gabapentin or intraoperative ketorolac groups. Females had higher first PACU VAS pain score (6.05 versus 5.15 P = 0.0026), final PACU VAS pain score (4.43 versus 3.90, P = 0.0045), final VAS pain score prior to discharge (3.87 versus 3.03, P < 0.001) and average postoperative pain score (4.60 versus 4.03, P < 0.001), but no difference in VAS pain score on follow-up call following surgery. Gabapentin or ketorolac was not associated with decreased VAS pain scores or time to discharge after hip arthroscopy.

Network Meta-Analysis of Perioperative Analgesic Effects of Different Interventions on Postoperative Pain After Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery Based on Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Shoulder arthroscopic surgery is a common surgical method used in orthopedics. However, severe postoperative pain can significantly limit the early joint movement of patients and adversely affect the impact of the surgery. At present, there is no consistent and effective analgesic scheme for the management of postoperative pain after arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to search for the most effective analgesic scheme to control pain in the perioperative period of arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder.

Study Design

Network meta-analysis.

Methods

We searched 5 different databases (i.e., Medline, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) from January 2011 to January 2021 for English literature. Thereafter, we sifted out randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which compared different intervention schemes for pain management after shoulder arthroscopy and selected only 12 h, 24 h, or 48 h after the patient leaves the operating room as an optimal period for administration of analgesic intervention schemes. Only patients with shoulder disease who have undergone arthroscopic shoulder surgery were included in this study. The Cochrane “risk of bias” was used for the quality assessment. Moreover, some additional tests were performed to enhance the credibility of the results.

Results

Twenty-nine RCTs involving 1,885 patients were included in this frequentist network meta-analysis (NMA). These articles mainly were divided into two distinct groups, namely, the nerve block group and the non-nerve block group. Regarding the nerve block group, at postoperative 12 h, the intervention suprascapular nerve block + interscalene nerve block (SSNB + INB) was ranked first, whereas INB + intra-articular injection (INB + IAI) was ranked first at 24 h and 48 h postoperation. In the non-nerve block group, external application (EA) was ranked first at postoperative 12 h, but oral administration (OA) exhibited a better analgesic effect at postoperative 24 h and postoperative 48 h.

Conclusion

We conclude that the analgesic effect of SSNB+INB was the best at postoperative 12 h, and INB+IAI was the best at postoperative 24 h and 48 h in the nerve block group. For the non-nerve block group, the effect of EA was the best at postoperative 12 h, and the analgesic effect of OA at postoperative 24 h and 48 h was significantly better than any other interventions.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42021286777.

The Management of Nausea and Vomiting Not Related to Anticancer Therapy in Patients with Cancer

OPINION STATEMENT

In cancer patients, the management of nausea and vomiting that is not directly related to treatment is challenging. Much current practice is based on expert opinion and anecdote. Fortunately, over recent years, a number of quality trials have been undertaken to strengthen the evidence base that guides the care of our patients with these distressing symptoms. Much is still unknown however. In this article, we present the latest literature that addresses some of the outstanding issues.

Procedure-specific and patient-specific pain management for ambulatory surgery with emphasis on the opioid crisis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Postoperative pain is frequent while, on the other hand, there is a grooving general concern on using effective opioid pain killers in view of the opioid crisis and significant incidence of opioid abuse. The present review aims at describing nonopioid measures in order to optimize and tailor perioperative pain management in ambulatory surgery.

RECENT FINDINGS

Postoperative pain should be addressed both preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively. The management should basically be multimodal, nonopioid and procedure-specific. Opioids should only be used when needed on top of multimodal nonopioid prophylaxis, and then limited to a few days at maximum, unless strict control is applied. The individual patient should be screened preoperatively for any risk factors for severe postoperative pain and/or any abuse potential.

SUMMARY

Basic multimodal analgesia should start preoperatively or peroperatively and include paracetamol, cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 specific inhibitor or conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and in most cases dexamethasone and local anaesthetic wound infiltration. If any of these basic analgesics are contraindicated or there is an extra risk of severe postoperative pain, further measures may be considered: nerve-blocks or interfascial plane blocks, gabapentinnoids, clonidine, intravenous lidocaine infusion or ketamine infusion. In the abuse-prone patient, a preferably nonopioid perioperative approach should be aimed at.

Preoperative Gabapentin Administration and Its Impact on Postoperative Opioid Requirement and Pain in Sinonasal Surgery

Objective

To determine the efficacy of preoperative gabapentin on patient-reported pain levels and postoperative opioid requirements following sinonasal surgery.

Study Design

Retrospective review.

Setting

Academic institution.

Methods

Patients undergoing sinonasal surgery between July 2019 and January 2020 were followed. Groups were divided into those that received 600 mg of oral gabapentin 1 hour preoperatively (gabapentin) and those that did not (control). Postoperatively, each patient was counseled to use acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and oxycodone as needed for pain control. Patients completed a daily postoperative pain and medication log. Pain was measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) and opioid use by morphine equivalent dose (MED). Chi-square test and Wilcoxon test were used for data analysis.

Results

Fifty-seven patients were included (control, n = 28; gabapentin, n = 29). There was no significant difference in age, sex, or baseline Sinonasal Outcome Test–22 scores between the groups. The total MED, postoperative day (POD) 1-2 MED, POD 3-4 MED, and POD 5-6 MED did not differ significantly between the control (17.9, 12.2, 4.6, 1.5) and gabapentin (19.0, 8.9, 7.2, 3.5) groups ( P = .98, .25, .16, .44). The mean daily VAS score did not differ significantly between the control (3.1) and gabapentin (2.8) groups ( P = .81). The mean daily VAS score decreased significantly in both groups with each successive POD ( P = .004).

Conclusion

Preoperative gabapentin did not significantly reduce postoperative pain or opioid use. Postoperative discomfort following sinonasal surgery is mild, and opioid intake is minimal.