Effect of dexmedetomidine infusion for intravenous patient-controlled analgesia on the quality of recovery after laparotomy surgery

Pharmacologic prevention and therapy of postoperative paralytic ileus after gastrointestinal cancer surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative paralytic ileus (POI) is a significant concern following gastrointestinal tumor surgery. Effective preventive and therapeutic strategies are crucial but remain elusive. Current evidence from randomized-controlled trials on pharmacological interventions for prevention or treatment of POI are systematically reviewed to guide clinical practice and future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literature was systematically searched for prospective randomized-controlled trials testing pharmacological interventions for prevention or treatment of POI after gastrointestinal tumor surgery. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to determine risk ratios and mean differences with 95% CI. Risk of bias and evidence quality were assessed.

RESULTS

Results from 55 studies, involving 5078 patients who received experimental interventions, indicate that approaches of opioid-sparing analgesia, peripheral opioid antagonism, reduction of sympathetic hyperreactivity, and early use of laxatives effectively prevent POI. Perioperative oral Alvimopan or intravenous administration of Lidocaine or Dexmedetomidine, while safe regarding cardio-pulmonary complications, demonstrated effectiveness concerning various aspects of postoperative bowel recovery [Lidocaine: -5.97 (-7.20 to -4.74)h, P <0.0001; Dexmedetomidine: -13.00 (-24.87 to -1.14)h, P =0.03 for time to first defecation; Alvimopan: -15.33 (-21.22 to -9.44)h, P <0.0001 for time to GI-2 ] and length of hospitalization [Lidocaine: -0.67 (-1.24 to -0.09)d, P =0.02; Dexmedetomidine: -1.28 (-1.96 to -0.60)d, P =0.0002; Alvimopan: -0.58 (-0.84 to -0.32)d, P <0.0001] across wide ranges of evidence quality. Perioperative nonopioid analgesic use showed efficacy concerning bowel recovery as well as length of hospitalization [-1.29 (-1.95 to -0.62)d, P =0.0001]. Laxatives showed efficacy regarding bowel movements, but not food tolerance and hospitalization. Evidence supporting pharmacological treatment for clinically evident POI is limited. Results from one single study suggest that Neostigmine reduces time to flatus and accelerates bowel movements [-37.06 (-40.26 to -33.87)h, P <0.0001 and -42.97 (-47.60 to -38.35)h, P <0.0001, respectively] with low evidence quality.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence concerning pharmacological prevention and treatment of POI following gastrointestinal tumor surgery is limited. Opioid-sparing concepts, reduction of sympathetic hyperreactivity, and laxatives should be implemented into multimodal perioperative approaches.

Analgesia for emergency laparotomy: a systematic review

Aims/Background Poorly controlled pain is common after emergency laparotomy. It causes distress, hinders rehabilitation, and predisposes to complications: prolonged hospitalisation, persistent pain, and reduced quality of life. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the relative efficacies of pre-emptive analgesia for emergency laparotomy to inform practice. Methods We performed a search of MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS for comparator studies of preoperative/intraoperative interventions to control/reduce postoperative pain in adults undergoing emergency laparotomy (EL) for general surgical pathologies. Exclusion criteria: surgery including non-abdominal sites; postoperative sedation and/or intubation; non-formal assessment of pain; non-English manuscripts. All manuscripts were screened by two investigators. Results We identified 2389 papers. Following handsearching and removal of duplicates, 1147 were screened. None were eligible for inclusion, with many looking at elective and/or laparoscopic surgeries. Conclusion Our findings indicate there is no evidence base for pre-emptive analgesic strategies in emergency laparotomy. This contrasts substantially with elective cohorts. Potential reasons include variation in practice, management of physiological derangement taking priority, and perceived contraindications to neuraxial techniques. We urge a review of contemporary practice, with analysis of clinical data, to generate expert consensus.

Impact of intravenous dexmedetomidine on postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery: an updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a complication that may occur after abdominal or nonabdominal surgery. Intravenous dexmedetomidine (Dex) has been reported to accelerate postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery; however, updated evidence is required to confirm its robustness.

METHODS

To identify randomized controlled trials examining the effects of perioperative intravenous Dex on gastrointestinal function recovery in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library were searched on August 2023. The primary outcome was time to first flatus. Secondary outcomes included time to oral intake and defecation as well as postoperative pain scores, postoperative nausea/vomiting (PONV), risk of hemodynamic instability, and length of hospital stay (LOS). To confirm its robustness, subgroup analyses and trial sequential analysis were performed.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials with 2566 patients showed that Dex significantly reduced the time to flatus [mean difference (MD):-7.19 h, P <0.00001), time to oral intake (MD: -6.44 h, P =0.001), time to defecation (MD:-13.84 h, P =0.008), LOS (MD:-1.08 days, P <0.0001), and PONV risk (risk ratio: 0.61, P <0.00001) without differences in hemodynamic stability and pain severity compared with the control group. Trial sequential analysis supported sufficient evidence favoring Dex for accelerating bowel function. Subgroup analyses confirmed the positive impact of Dex on the time to flatus across different surgical categories and sexes. However, this benefit has not been observed in studies conducted in regions outside China.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative intravenous Dex may enhance postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery and reduce LOS, thereby validating its use in patients for whom postoperative ileus is a significant concern.

Efficacy and safety evaluation of dexmedetomidine for postoperative patient controlled intravenous analgesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine (DEX) for postoperative patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA). Measurements: Two investigators independently searched Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library and CBM for randomized controlled trials of DEX for PCIA. Main results: Thirty-seven studies with a total of 5,409 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with analgesics alone, DEX for PCIA reduced pain score at 24 h [mean difference (MD) = -0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.85, -0.54; p < 0.00001, I ² = 90%] and 48 h postoperatively (MD = -0.43; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.34; p < 0.00001, I ² = 96%). Moreover, DEX reduced analgesics consumption during the first 24 h [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.25; 95% CI: -0.34, -0.16; p < 0.00001, I ² = 91%] and the number of resuscitation analgesics administered [odds ratio (OR) = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.66; p < 0.00001, I ² = 72%]. Furthermore, DEX improved patient satisfaction (OR = 3.55; 95% CI: 2.36, 5.35; p < 0.00001, I ² = 60%), and reduced incidence of side effects, such as postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (OR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.57; p < 0.00001, I ² = 59%) and pruritus after surgery (OR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.68; p = 0.0001, I ² = 0%). Besides, DEX attenuates inflammatory cytokine levels, such as IL-6 (MD = -5.73; 95% CI: -8.34, -3.12; p < 0.00001, I ² = 91%) and TNF-α (MD = -0.63; 95% CI: -0.76, -0.50; p < 0.00001, I ² = 89%). Finally, DEX increased the risk of bradycardia (OR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.45; p = 0.01, I ² = 15%), but the complication of hypotension did not differ between the two groups (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 0.84, 2.04; p = 0.25, I ² = 0%). Conclusion: DEX is used for postoperative PCIA analgesia, which can significantly improve the analgesic effect, effectively control postoperative inflammatory response, reduce the dosage and adverse reactions of analgesics, and improve postoperative patient satisfaction. Of course, the impact of the immunosuppressive effect of DEX on the prognosis of patients needs further study. Systematic review registration: CRD42022340933, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.

The effect of perioperative dexmedetomidine on postoperative bowel function recovery in adult patients receiving general anaesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

Dexmedetomidine has opioid sparing actions but its effect on bowel recovery is controversial. Primary aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of perioperative dexmedetomidine on postoperative bowel recovery. Secondary aim was to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on hospital discharge.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Randomised controlled trials in English language reporting any or all of the following parameters of bowel recovery; time to first bowel sounds, first flatus, first faeces, or time to oral diet were included.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Twelve hundred and thirty-five patients from 13 studies were analysed. There were insufficient studies evaluating bowel sounds. Perioperative dexmedetomidine usage significantly reduced the time to first flatus [MD -5.61 hours (95% CI -8.61 to -2.60); P = 0.0003; I2 = 95%], first faeces [MD -12.70 hours (95% CI -19.11 to -6.29); P = 0.0001; I2 = 76%] and the composite outcome of bowel recovery (flatus, faeces, oral diet) [MD -7.44 hours (95% CI -10.31 to -4.57); P < 0.00001; I2 = 96%]. No difference was seen in the time to oral diet [MD -6.29 hours (95% CI -13.48 to 0.91); P = 0.09; I2 = 88%] or hospital discharge [MD -0.47 days (95% CI -1.27 to 0.33); P = 0.25; I2 = 86%].

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative dexmedetomidine usage significantly shortens the time to first flatus, faeces and composite bowel recovery but does not result in a shorter time to oral diet or earlier hospital discharge in adult patients receiving general anaesthesia. Strength of evidence is however very low for the effect of dexmedetomidine on bowel recovery.

Comparison of the Analgesic Effects of Intravenous Infusion of Dexmedetomidine Versus Bilateral Superficial Cervical Plexus Block After Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is widely used in clinical practice because of its safety and effectiveness. Superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB) can reduce pain in thyroid surgery. The objective of this study was to investigated whether intravenous DEX has an equivalent analgesic effect and patients' satisfaction to SCPB for thyroid surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety patients who had been scheduled for thyroidectomy under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group D: DEX was administered intravenously at an initial dose of 1 µg/kg over 10 minutes; then induction and endotracheal intubation performed, and then a continuous intravenous infusion of DEX was administered at a rate of 0.4 μg/kg/h until 30 minutes before the end of surgery. Group B: ultrasound-guided bilateral SCPB was performed, with 10 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine injected on each side. Group C: intravenous saline was administered at the same rate and dose as in group D. Patients' perioperative status, visual analog scale scores, complications and patients' satisfaction were recorded.

RESULTS

The pain at rest at 1 hour after extubation and the movement-evoked pain within 24 hours after extubation were significantly lower in groups D and B than in group C. Patients' satisfaction was significantly higher in groups D and B than in group C. There was no difference in pain at rest, movement-evoked pain and patients' satisfaction between group D and B.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative intravenous infusion of DEX can effectively reduce wound pain after thyroidectomy, and the analgesic effect is equivalent to that of bilateral SCPB.

Quality of Recovery Following Orthopedic Surgery in Patients at an Academic Hospital in South Africa

BACKGROUND

Measurement of perioperative quality of recovery (QoR) is an important tool in improving the patient's perioperative experience. By making use of the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire, this study aimed to measure the QoR on day 1 in patients following elective and semiurgent orthopedic surgery at an academic hospital. A secondary aim was to determine factors that may influence the QoR.

METHODS

A cross-sectional research study was performed in 122 patients presenting for elective and semiurgent orthopedic surgery during core working hours between July and November 2019 at Helen Joseph Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. Patients completed a baseline QoR-15 assessment preoperatively and a day 1 QoR-15 assessment between 12 and 24 hours postoperatively. Additional information on various anesthetic, surgical, and patient factors was collected.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (15.6%) had a poor QoR on day 1 and were found to have started with a significantly worse baseline QoR-15 score than those with no poor QoR (98.5 vs 128.5; P < .001). A significant worsening from the overall mean baseline QoR-15 to the overall mean day 1 QoR-15 score was found (123.8 vs 113.1; P = .001). This worsening score was more pronounced in patients with a poor day 1 QoR-15 score than no poor day 1 score (25.3 vs 8; P = .002). Surgical site was found to have a significant effect on day 1 score (P = .026). A significantly worse severe pain score was found in patients with foot/ankle and knee surgery compared to hand/arm surgery (P = .012 and P = .032, respectively) and is thought to be due to the decreased use of peripheral nerve blocks in lower limb surgery. Sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, type of anesthesia, postoperative analgesia, and antiemetic given (only applicable in general anesthetic cases) were not found to have a significant effect on the day 1 QoR-15 scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who had a poor QoR on day 1 started with a significantly worse baseline QoR-15 score and experienced a significantly greater negative change in the mean difference. Preoperative identification of patients who are at risk of a poor postoperative QoR may aid in preemptive targeting of limited resources to those who need them most. Postoperative pain, particularly in patients after foot/ankle and knee surgery, is a significant modifiable factor to improve postoperative QoR at our institution.

Clinical Effect of Different Drugs and Infusion Techniques for Patient-Controlled Analgesia After Spinal Tumor Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes of the different drug combination and infusion techniques for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).

METHODS

Ninety-seven patients who had undergone spinal tumor surgery were randomized to 4 groups with different PCA drugs and infusion techniques: subcutaneous sufentanil (SS) group; (n=25), subcutaneous sufentanil and dexmedetomidine (SDS) group (n=24), intravenous sufentanil (SI) group (n=23), and intravenous sufentanil and dexmedetomidine (SDI) group (n=25). The primary outcome measured the cumulative amount of sufentanil delivered to the patients through PCA 24 and 48 hours after the surgery. Secondary outcomes measured the visual analog scale pain scores 24 and 48 hours after the surgery, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index before and 1 month after surgery, Athens Insomnia Score before and the first 2 nights after surgery, and the rate of adverse events within 48 hours after surgery.

FINDINGS

At 24 and 48 hours after surgery, the cumulative amount of sufentanil in the SDS group (mean [SD], 76.44 [10.75] at 24 hours and 151.96 [20.92] at 48 hours) and the SDI group (mean [SD], 75.08 [9.00] at 24 hours and 149.56 [18.22] at 48 hours) were significantly lower than in SS group (mean [SD] 95.52 [12.40] at 24 hours and 183.23 [23.06] at 48 hours) and the SI group (mean [SD], 97.25 [10.80] at 24 hours and 186.67 [20.14] at 48 hours; P < 0.001). The visual analog scale pain scores and Athens Insomnia Scale scores were also lower in the SDS and SDI groups than in the SS and SI groups 24 and 48 hours after surgery (P < 0.05). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was lower in the SDS and SDI groups 1 month after surgery. Lastly, the rate of nausea and vomiting was higher in the SI group than in the SS, SDS, and SDI groups (P = 0.018).

IMPLICATIONS

Dexmedetomidine in PCA could decrease sufentanil intake and improve analgesic effect and sleep quality. Subcutaneous PCA can provide the same benefit with a lower rate of nausea and vomiting. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04111328. (Clin Ther. 2021;XX:XXX-XXX) © 2021 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc.

The Effects of Body Mass Index on the Use of Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia After Open Gastrointestinal Tumor Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis

Purpose

To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the analgesic effects and adverse reactions of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA).

Methods

From 2017 to 2018, 390 patients undergoing open gastrointestinal surgery were reviewed at West China Hospital, Sichuan University. All used PCIA of sufentanil combined with dexmedetomidine and flurbiprofen axetil. According to their BMIs, they were placed into six groups: group A (BMI < 18.5kg/m², 29), group B (18.5kg/m² ≤ BMI< 22kg/m², 124), group C (22kg/m² ≤ BMI < 24kg/m², 99), group D (24kg/m² ≤ BMI < 26kg/m², 69), group E (26kg/m² ≤ BMI < 28kg/m², 46) and group F (BMI ≥28kg/m², 23). Main data of the perioperative use of analgesics, postoperative visual analogue score (VAS), and adverse reactions were collected.

Results

Twenty-four hours (h) after surgery, patients in group A had a higher resting VAS than the other groups, especially B (p_A-B = 0.011). VAS of patients during activity in group B was lower than those in group C 48 h after surgery (p = 0.013). Compared with groups B to F, group A had a significantly lower incidence of hypertension (p = 0.012) and a significantly higher incidence of vomiting 24 h after surgery (p = 0.009). Binary logistic analysis found that higher age was a risk factor for vomiting 24 h after surgery (OR 1.158, p = 0.045).

Conclusion

Using the same PCIA, patients with BMIs of less than 18.5 kg/m² had worse analgesia on the first day after surgery and were more likely to vomit. Postoperative analgesia and related experiences in patients with BMIs of less than 18.5 kg/m² need to be improved.

The Effect and Optimal Dosage of Dexmedetomidine Plus Sufentanil for Postoperative Analgesia in Elderly Patients With Postoperative Delirium and Early Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction: A Single-Center, Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial

Background

Postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) are common complications after major surgery among elderly patients. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is less frequently explored for its effects in patients with postoperative neurocognitive disorders. This study investigated the effect and optimal dosage of DEX for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) on POD and early POCD after major surgery among elderly patients.

Methods

Patients in four groups received continuous infusion of DEX 0, 100, 200, and 400 μg with sufentanil 150 μg for PCA immediately after surgery. POD and POCD were assessed on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 7 by using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scales. Furthermore, the incidence of POD and POCD of all the four groups in postoperative 7 days classified by high risk factors (age, education, surgical site, and surgical category), sedation level, postoperative pain intensity, and side effects were assessed.

Results

The overall incidence rates of POD and early POCD 7 days after surgery were lower in the DEX 200 μg 400 μg groups than in the DEX 0 μg and 100 μg groups (P < 0.05). Compared with DEX 200 μg, DEX 400 μg reduced early POCD in patients who underwent open surgery (P < 0.05). There were no intergroup differences in the postoperative sedation level, pain intensity, and side effects.

Conclusion

The continuous infusion of DEX 200 μg or DEX 400 μg in PCA significantly decreased the incidence of POD and early POCD after major surgery without increasing any side effects. Compared with DEX 200 μg, DEX 400 μg was preferred for reducing early POCD in patients who underwent open surgery.

Perioperative Pain Management Strategies in the Age of an Opioid Epidemic

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services 2016 and 2017 data, an estimated 130 people per day died from opioid-related drug overdoses; 42,249 people died from overdosing on opioids; and 2.1 million people had opioid-use disorder. Health care organizations such as the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Medical Association have information related to pain management and/or the opioid epidemic on their Web sites. It is imperative for health care providers to be cognizant of, and use low-dose opioid/opioid-free pain management therapies. This article reviews the pain process and outlines low-dose opioid/opioid-free pain management modalities.

Factors Influencing Satisfaction with Patient-Controlled Analgesia Among Postoperative Patients Using a Generalized Ordinal Logistic Regression Model

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the satisfaction with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) of patients using a generalized ordinal logistic regression model and to evaluate the difference in results of the ordinal regression from those of binary regression.

METHODS

The study design involved secondary analysis of electronic medical records from a single tertiary care hospital in Seoul, Korea. It included 2,409 patients treated with PCA for postoperative pain management after open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery. Binary logistic regression and generalized ordinal logistic regression were used to identify factors affecting satisfaction.

RESULTS

Binary logistic regression analysis showed that there was insufficient information for analysis. Generalized ordinal logistic regression revealed that sex, age, pain, PCA usage, and side-effects were common factors affecting PCA satisfaction. However, the effect of some factors affecting PCA satisfaction differed with the level of satisfaction. In open surgery patients, the effect of pain at 6 hours after surgery was significantly greater in the group with lower satisfaction. While, in the laparoscopic surgery patients, the effect of pain at 6-24 hours after surgery was significantly greater in the group with lower satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Generalized logistic regression may be an appropriate statistical method for analyzing ordinal data. Degree of postoperative pain and assessment interval are the most important factors associated with PCA satisfaction. Because the factors affecting PCA satisfaction were different for the two types of abdominal surgeries, customizing PCA to individual patients may potentially improve pain management and consequently increase PCA satisfaction.

The Benefits of Opioid Free Anesthesia and the Precautions Necessary When Employing It

The use of opioids in the perioperative period is associated with respiratory depression, impaired gastrointestinal function, post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), pruritus, urinary retention, delirium and the potential for developing opioid addiction. Currently the United States is experiencing an epidemic of prescription opioid abuse and deaths from overdose. Many addicts develop their addiction during a routine surgical admission to hospital. More people now die from overdose of synthetic prescription opioids than from heroin and other street drugs. Public education campaigns teaching family members of addicts to reverse opioid induced respiratory depression with naloxone are currently underway. Preventing the development of addiction in the first place during and after the surgical admission however will be more successful at saving lives. Primary prevention of opioid addiction is possible when non-opioid analgesic drugs are used. Employing alternative analgesic drugs in the peri-operative period that have a lower addiction potential and less respiratory depression has therefore become a matter of great national importance. Many powerful non-opioid analgesics are currently available that have more favorable side effect profiles and a lower potential for developing addiction. However, these medications are currently not used as often in routine clinical practice as they should be. Replacing opioids with other analgesics will not only reduce the development of opioid addiction but will also lead to better perioperative outcomes and enhanced patient recovery. This article briefly reviews the opioid alternatives that can significantly reduce or even entirely eliminate the perioperative use of opioids in the majority of surgical procedures.

Impact of Local Infiltration Analgesia on the Quality of Recovery After Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) is commonly used in anterior total hip arthroplasty (THA) surgery; however, evidence for its efficacy is lacking. We hypothesized that LIA with 0.2% ropivacaine when compared with injection of placebo (0.9% saline) would improve patient quality of recovery on postoperative day (POD) 1, as measured by the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score.

METHODS

Patients scheduled to have a primary unilateral anterior THA with a single surgeon in a tertiary level metropolitan hospital were randomized to receive LIA with either 2.5 mL/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine or 0.9% saline as placebo. Patients and clinical and study personnel were blinded to group allocation. Perioperative care was standardized and this included spinal anesthesia and oral multimodal analgesia. The primary outcome was a multidimensional (pain, physical comfort, physical independence, emotions, and psychological support) patient-reported quality of recovery scale, QoR-15, measured on POD 1.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty patients were randomized; 6 patients were withdrawn after randomization and 2 patients had incomplete outcome data. The intention-to-treat analysis included 152 patients. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) QoR-15 score on POD 1 of the ropivacaine group was 119.5 (102-124), compared with the placebo group which had a median (IQR) of 115 (98-126). The median difference of 2 (95% confidence interval [CI], -4 to 7; P = .56) was not statistically or clinically significant. An as-per-protocol sensitivity analysis of 146 patients who received spinal anesthesia without general anesthesia, and the allocated intervention, also showed no evidence of a significant difference between groups. Secondary outcomes (worst pain numerical rating scale at rest and with movement on POD 1, opioid consumption on PODs 1 and 2, mobilization on POD 1, Brief Pain Inventory severity and interference on POD 90, and length of stay) were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

LIA with 0.2% ropivacaine when compared with 0.9% saline as placebo did not improve quality of recovery 1 day after anterior THA.

Dexmedetomidine reduces inflammation in traumatic brain injury by regulating the inflammatory responses of macrophages and splenocytes

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects people in all demographics, since it is associated with a variety of chronic degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. In TBI, the central nervous system elicits an immune response involving various immune cells that is necessary for healing and defending the body against pathogens, but can also cause secondary damage to the brain if the response is prolonged. In our clinical practice, it has been identified that administration of dexmedetomidine was associated with reduced production of inflammatory cytokines in patients with TBI, which led to the hypothesis that dexmedetomidine may regulate certain inflammatory responses. To test this hypothesis, the roles of dexmedetomidine in the immune system of mice were investigated. Different biological assays were used to assess the influence of dexmedetomidine on the production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-1β. To understand how dexmedetomidine affects different types of immune cells, the influence of dexmedetomidine on splenocytes was also investigated. Finally, the effects of dexmedetomidine on macrophage activation and inflammatory functions were studied. In the present study, clinical observations and in vivo results using a mouse model of TBI revealed the regulatory functions of dexmedetomidine in TBI-associated immune response.

Dexmedetomidine and sufentanil combination versus sufentanil alone for postoperative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have demonstrated that dexmedetomidine improves the quality of postoperative analgesia. In the present study, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to quantify the effect of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to sufentanil for postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials in which dexmedetomidine was used as an adjuvant for PCA with sufentanil. In the retrieved studies, we quantitatively analyzed pain intensity, sufentanil consumption, and drug-related side effects.

RESULTS

Nine studies with 907 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with sufentanil alone, dexmedetomidine-sufentanil for postoperative intravenous PCA reduced pain intensity at 24 h (mean difference (MD) = - 0.70points; 95% confidence interval (CI): - 1.01, - 0.39; P < 0.00001) and 48 h postoperatively (MD = -0.61points; 95% CI: - 1.00, - 0.22; P = 0.002). Moreover, dexmedetomidine-sufentanil reduced sufentanil consumption during the first 24 h (MD = -13.77 μg; 95% CI: - 18.56, - 8.97; P < 0.00001) and 48 h postoperatively (MD = -20.81 μg; 95% CI: - 28.20, - 13.42; P < 0.00001). Finally, dexmedetomidine-sufentanil improved patient satisfaction without increasing the incidence of side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to sufentanil for postoperative PCA can reduce postoperative pain score and sufentanil consumption.

Efficacy of dexmedetomidine in reducing post-operative pain and improving the quality of recovery in patients with burn wounds undergoing tangential excision skin grafting

Burn-induced acute post-operative pain and the associated stress response may result in prolonged convalescence. The present study investigated the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) administration on post-operative pain and the quality of recovery following surgical treatment of moderate-to-severe burn injuries. A total of 60 adult patients undergoing tangential excision skin grafting were randomized into two groups. The DEX group (Group D) received an intravenous (i.v.) single-dose bolus injection of DEX 0.5 µg/kg >10 min prior to induction of anesthesia. Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was provided to the patients from the end of the surgery, which consisted of 100 µg sufentanil plus 200 µg DEX. The control group (Group C) received an equal volume of normal saline as a pre-operative bolus and post-operative PCIA of 100 µg sufentanil infusion. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at rest and during movement, the cumulative dose of sufentanil and the 40-item quality of recovery questionnaire (QoR-40) score were assessed at various time-points after the surgery. During the first 24 h post-surgery, patients in Group D exhibited a lower VAS score at rest and during movement, a lower number of PCIA pump presses (29.17±1.91 vs. 34.13±2.73) and lower sufentanil consumption (62.58±0.96 vs. 65.27±1.26) compared with those in Group C (P<0.05). Furthermore, the QoR-40 recovery score of patients in Group D at 24 h post-surgery was higher compared with that in Group C (P<0.01). In conclusion, the present study indicated that a pre-operative bolus of DEX (0.5 µg/kg) followed by DEX plus sufentanil by PCIA subsequent to surgery improved the quality of analgesia and promoted the quality of recovery at 24 h following tangential excision skin grafting treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe burn injuries compared to PCIA of 100 µg sufentanil only. The present study was retrospectively registered with the trial registration no. ChiCTR1800016646 (date of registration, 14/06/2018).