Intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia in the treatment of pain in patients operated on by the modified Nuss method with the BackOnFeet application-a new strategy to improve outcomes

Cryoanalgesia as the Essential Element of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) in Children Undergoing Thoracic Surgery-Scoping Review

This article aims to present cryoanalgesia as an inventive strategy for pain alleviation among pediatric patients. It underlines the tremendous need to align pain management with the principles of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) approach. The aim of the study was to review the patient outcomes of nerve cryoanalgesia during surgery reported with regard to ERAS in the literature. The literature search was performed using PubMed and Embase to identify articles on the use of cryoanalgesia in children. It excluded editorials, reviews, meta-analyses, and non-English articles. The analysis focused on the study methods, data analysis, patient selection, and patient follow-up. This review includes a total of 25 articles. Three of the articles report the results of cryoanalgesia implemented in ERAS protocol in children. The research outcome indicates shortened hospital stay, potential reduction in opioid dosage, and significant progress in physical rehabilitation. This paper also describes the first intraoperative utilization of intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia during the Nuss procedure in Poland, highlighting its effectiveness in pain management. Adding the cryoanalgesia procedure to multimodal analgesia protocol may facilitate the implementation of the ERAS protocol in pediatric patients.

Benefits of the Erector Spinae Plane Block before Cryoanalgesia in Children Undergoing Surgery for Funnel Chest Deformity

Thoracic surgery causes significant pain despite standard multimodal analgesia. Intraoperative cryoanalgesia may be a solution. The onset of the clinical effect of cryoanalgesia can take 12-36 h. The addition of a regional anaesthesia before the cryoanalgesia procedure can enable analgesic protection for the patient during this period. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the benefits of the erector spinae plane (ESP) block prior to Nuss surgery. The 'control' group consisted of 10 teenagers who underwent cryoablation together with intravenous multimodal analgesia according to the standard protocol. The 'intervention' group included 26 teenage patients who additionally received an erector spinae plane block before operation. Pain relief (p = 0.015), opioid use (p = 0.009), independent physical activity and rehabilitation (p = 0.020) were faster in the intervention group. No features of local anaesthetic drug toxicity or complications of the ESP block were observed. The bilateral ESP block together with intraoperative intercostal nerve cryoablation performed prior to Nuss correction of funnel chest were more effective in terms of pain control.

Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block: a powerful way for reducing postoperative pain

Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) has been gradually carried out in clinical practice. However, some clinical evidence is contradictory, and no studies have summarized and described these results. The authors reviewed the anatomical characteristics of QLB and summarized the advantages and disadvantages of four puncture methods, so as to facilitate the clinical application of QLB.

Novel Interdisciplinary Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol Implementation in Paediatric Orthopaedics

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol is not routine management in paediatric orthopaedics. Cultural differences or assumptions about the financing of medical care in different countries encourage creative adaptation of general assumptions in local communities. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of the perioperative period before and after the introduction of an interdisciplinary protocol adopted to organisational conditions. A group of 4098 children were included in the "before-after" observational study. The data of 1553 patients (BEFORE group) were analysed in terms of compliance with the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol guidelines and the time and cost of hospitalisation over a 20-month period. A novel interdisciplinary protocol was developed, including an education and training app called BackOnFeet (BOF®), standardised hospital management, and the introduction of methods novel to Poland (intraoperative nerve cryoanalgesia in children). A further 2545 patients (AFTER group) were reassessed over a period of 20 months. It was found that the groups differed in hospitalisation time (p < 0.001), type of procedures, and percentage ratio of costs incurred to revenue generated. The usefulness of the BOF® app as an effective educational tool was demonstrated. The optimisation of perioperative management in paediatric orthopaedics based on novel tools and the interdisciplinary ERAS protocol is possible and brings tangible benefits in psychological, organisational, and financial terms.