Feenstra ML, Jansen S, Eshuis WJ, van Berge Henegouwen MI, Hollmann MW, Hermanides J. Opioid-free anesthesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
J Clin Anesth 2023;
90:111215. [PMID:
37515877 DOI:
10.1016/j.jclinane.2023.111215]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To evaluate all available evidence thus far on opioid based versus opioid-free anesthesia and its effect on acute and chronic postoperative pain.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
SETTING
Operating room, postoperative recovery room and ward.
PATIENTS
Patients undergoing general anesthesia.
INTERVENTIONS
After consulting MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane database, studies which compared opioid free anesthesia (OFA) with opioid based anesthesia (OBA) were included (last search April 15th 2022).
MEASUREMENTS
Primary outcomes were acute and chronic pain scores in NRS or VAS. Secondary outcomes were quality of recovery and postoperative opioid consumption. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB2 tool and a random effects model for the meta-analysis was conducted.
MAIN RESULTS
We identified 1245 citations, of which 38 studies met our inclusion criteria. There is moderate quality evidence showing no clinically relevant difference of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores or opioid consumption in the postoperative period (pooled mean difference of 0.39 points with a CI of 0.19-0.59 and 4.02 MME with a CI of 1.73-6.30). We found only one small-sized study reporting no effect of opioid-free anesthesia on chronic pain. The quality of recovery was superior in patients with opioid-free anesthesia (mean difference of 8.26 points), however, this pooled analysis was comprised of only two studies. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occurred less in opioid-free anesthesia, but bradycardia was more frequent.
CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that we cannot recommend one strategy over the other. Future studies could focus on quality of recovery as outcome measure and adequately powered studies on the effects of opioid-free anesthesia on chronic pain are eagerly awaited.
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