Evaluation of the effect of intrathecal clonidine to decrease shoulder tip pain in laparoscopy under spinal anaesthesia

Use of intraoperative mild hyperventilation to decrease the incidence of postoperative shoulder pain after laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery: A prospective randomised controlled study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Post-laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP) is a common problem. It is a referred type of pain resulting from irritation of phrenic nerve endings. Multiple manoeuvres were used to decrease its incidence with varying success rates. In this study, we tested the use of mild intraoperative hyperventilation to reduce PLSP in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery (LSG).

METHODS

Consenting American Society of Anesthesiologists-I and II patients undergoing LSG under general anaesthesia were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A (53 patients) received intraoperative mild hyperventilation with target end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) of 30-32 mmHg. Group B (51 patients) received conventional ventilation (ETCO2 of 35-40 mmHg). Incidence and severity of PLSP, cumulative analgesic requirements and incidence of nausea and vomiting were recorded at 12 and 24 hours postoperatively and then followed up after discharge over the phone at 48 hours, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. Statistical significance of differences between the two groups was defined at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Incidence of PLSP was comparable between the two groups in the first 24 hours. The intervention group had a significantly lower incidence of PLSP throughout the remaining assessment points (56.6% vs. 80.4%, 30.2% vs. 78.4%, 15.1% vs. 70.6%, 3.8% vs. 35.3% at 36 hours, 48 hours, 1 week and 1 month, respectively, P < 0.05). The average PLSP pain score was significantly lower in the mild hyperventilation group at all assessment time points. Nausea and vomiting were non-significantly lower in the mild hyperventilation group.

CONCLUSION

Mild intraoperative hyperventilation could be beneficial in reducing the incidence and severity of PLSP after LSG surgery.

Comparision of Dexmedetomidine and Propofol in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Under Spinal Anesthesia

Background:

Spinal anesthesia (SA) with sedation is considered to be an alternative to general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in high-risk patients. Ketamine in analgesic dose with propofol or dexmedetomidine infusion provides titratable sedation, hemodynamic stability, and minimum respiratory depression without psychomimetic effects.

Aim:

To compare the efficacy of ketamine–dexmedetomidine and ketamine-propofol combination in relation to sedation, analgesia, hemodynamic effects, and perioperative side effects.

Settings and Design:

This was a prospective, randomized single-blind comparative study comprising 100 American Society of Anesthesiologists I, II, and III patients posted for LC.

Materials and Methods:

Patients were randomized into two groups of 50 patients each. Group KP (ketamine + propofol) received intravenous (i.v.) bolus of injection ketamine 0.5 mg.kg ⁻¹ and propofol infusion at 3 mg.kg ⁻¹.h ⁻¹. Group KD (ketamine + dexmedetomidine) received i.v. bolus of injection ketamine 0.5 mg.kg ⁻¹ and dexmedetomidine infusion at 0.4 μg.kg ⁻¹.h ⁻¹. Parameters observed were vitals, perioperative side effects, time to first rescue analgesia, and return of consciousness.

Statistical Analysis:

Student's independent t-test was employed for comparing continuous variables. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, whichever appropriate, was applied for comparing categorical variables.

Results:

Duration of analgesia was longer in KD Group (191.2 vs. 173.5 min), and time to regain consciousness was faster in KP Group (14.9 vs. 20.4 min).

Conclusion:

Both the techniques of sedation are feasible, safe, and comparable, except the duration of analgesia and time to regain consciousness which was longer in KD Group.

A Comparative Study between Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Fentanyl to Relieve Shoulder Pain during Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery under Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Clinical Trail

Background

Traditionally, laparoscopic procedures have been performed under general anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia is an effective alternative to general anesthesia. However, one of the intraoperative complications of performing laparoscopic surgery under spinal anesthesia is shoulder pain. This study aimed to compare the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with fentanyl on pain relief in patients who underwent gynecologic laparoscopy under spinal anesthesia.

Methods

We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial from May 2016 to March 2017. A sample of patients who underwent gynecological laparoscopy under spinal anesthesia was recruited. If they had shoulder pain, they randomly received either transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or 50 mg of fentanyl. Pain intensity was measured using the single item visual analogue scale (VAS-10 cm) immediately before and 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes after treatment. Also, the effect of higher doses of analgesia on pain relief was analyzed.

Results

In all, 80 patients (40 patients in each group) were entered into the study. The mean pain intensity score was 9.02 ± 1.32 in the TENS group and 8.95 ± 1.33 in the fentanyl group at baseline (P = 0.80). Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that there was no significant difference on overall pain scores between the two treatment groups adjusted for age, BMI, total analgesia used, and baseline pain score (F (1, 74) = 1.44, P = 0.23). The use of analgesic drugs in the TENS group was significantly higher than the fentanyl group (P = 0.01). In addition, we found that nine patients (22.5%) complained of nausea/vomiting in the TENS group compared to thirteen patients (32.5%) in the fentanyl group (P = 0.31).

Conclusions

The findings indicated that TENS was not superior to fentanyl for pain relief in laparoscopic surgery. It seems that the correct use of TENS parameters might merit further investigation. This trial is registered with: IRCT2016031216765N3.

Effect of Oral Clonidine on Shoulder Tip Pain and Hemodynamic Response After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Double Blind Study

Background

Shoulder tip pain is a common problem after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There are a few clinical trial studies on the effect of clonidine on post laparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP). This study aimed at evaluating the effect of oral clonidine on PLSP in semi-sitting position and post-operative hemodynamic response of patients undergoing LC surgery.

Methods

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients, who were candidates for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery under general anesthesia, and were randomly allocated to clonidine and placebo groups. Patients in the clonidine group received 0.2 mg oral, 90 minutes prior to induction. Patients in the placebo group received vitamin C tablets during the same time. Postoperative pain intensity was assessed, using a visual analog scale at the emergence from anesthesia, 4 and 8 hours after the operation by an anesthetist, who was blinded to the patient group. Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were recorded before clonidine administration and in post-operative period.

Results

The mean age was 36.85 ± 10.93 years and the mean Body Mass was 26.34 ± 3.46 kg/m². Two groups were not comparable with respect to occurrence of PLSP (P = 0.739). There was a significant difference in intensity of PLSP between the 2 groups at emergence from anesthesia (P = 0.012), 4 and 8 hours after the operation (P = 0.001) between 2 groups. The clonidine group showed a larger reduction of pain intensity at these phases. The result of independent t test indicated significant differences in the MABP value between the 2 groups at the time of emergence from anesthesia (P = 0.031). The clonidine group demonstrated a lower MABP level at this time.

Conclusions

Oral clonidine is not effective in preventing the PLSP. However, it alleviates PLSP intensity in the patient under LC procedure on the first post-operative hours.

Intrathecal dextmedetomidine to reduce shoulder tip pain in laparoscopic cholecystectomies under spinal anesthesia

BACKGROUND

General anesthesia as a technique for laparoscopic cholecystectomies has disadvantage in terms of the stress response, lack of postoperative analgesia and emesis. Regional anesthesia offers advantages over general anesthesia in terms of cost, postoperative analgesia, intact respiratory control mechanism and early ambulation. Shoulder tip pain remains the main concerns that can be alleviated by adding various adjuvants to local anesthetics.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To study the effect of adding intrathecal dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine to decrease shoulder tip pain, onset and duration of sensory and motor block, hemodynamic changes and side effects if any.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Totally, 60 patients were divided into two groups of 30 each. Group A received 3 ml of bupivacaine heavy and group B received 5 µg of dexmedetomidine along with 3 ml of bupivacaine diluted to total volume of 3.5 ml in each group.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

It was done using Chi-square and Student's t-test.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Intrathecal dexmedetomidine provides stable hemodynamics, excellent sedation and analgesia and abolishes shoulder tip pain.

Thoracic epidural anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy using either bupivacaine or a mixture of bupivacaine and clonidine: A comparative clinical study

Introduction:

Traditionally laparoscopic cholecystectomy is done under general anesthesia. But recently there is a growing interest to get it conducted under central neuraxial blockade. We conducted a clinical study comprising bupivacaine alone or a combination of bupivacaine and clonidine (2 μg/kg) in thoracic epidural anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The aim was to attenuate the undesirable hemodynamic changes due to pneumoperitoneum (PNO) and achieve a better qualitative blockade.

Patients and Methods:

After taking approval from Institutional Ethical Committee, 50 adult patients of ASA grade I and II were divided into two groups; group A where bupivacaine was given with 2 μg/kg of clonidine (Cloneon, Neon) and in group B bupivacaine (Anawin, Neon) was given with 1 ml of saline as placebo. Thoracic epidural was given at the T₉-T₁₀ or T₁₀-T₁₁ interspace to obtain a block of T₄-L₂ dermatome. Hemodynamic parameters like heart rate (HR), noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP), respiratory rate (RR), electrocardiogram (ECG), oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) were monitored and readings were recorded before and 10 minutes (min.) after the blockade and then at 5 min, 15 min and 30 min after PNO and 15 min after exsufflation.

Results:

All the parameters of the patients in group A remained stable but the patients of group B showed an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and HR at 5, 15 and 30 min after PNO and 15 min after exsufflation as compared to Group A. PaCO₂, SpO₂ and RR values in both the groups were comparable. In group A, two patients complained of shoulder pain while in group B12 patients complained of shoulder pain.

Conclusion:

Thoracic epidural anesthesia for LC is a satisfactory alternative technique in selected cases. Addition of clonidine (2 μg/kg) to bupivacaine produces better qualitative anesthetic conditions. It prevents hemodynamic perturbations produced by pneumoperitoneum and also decreases the incidence of shoulder pain. Thus we strongly advocate the incorporation of clonidine as an adjuvant in thoracic epidural anesthesia for LC.

The effect of pretreatment with clonidine on propofol consumption in opium abuser and non-abuser patients undergoing elective leg surgery

OBJECTIVE

Clonidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, increases the quality of perioperative sedation and analgesia with a few side effects. This study was designed to assess the effect of clonidine premedication on the anesthesics used for elective below knee surgeries in opium abusers and non-abusers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a randomized clinical trial, 160 patients were selected and assigned into four groups. Eighty patients among the opium abusers were divided randomly into clonidine and no clonidine groups, with 40 patients in each, and 80 among the non-abusers were again divided randomly into clonidine and no clonidine groups, with 40 patients in each group. All were anesthetized for elective orthopedic operation using the same predetermined method. The total administered dose of propofol and other variables were compared.

RESULTS

THE TOTAL PROPOFOL DOSE IN A DECREASING ORDER WAS AS FOLLOWS: Abuser patients receiving placebo (862 ± 351 mg), non-abuser patients receiving placebo (806 ± 348 mg), abuser patients receiving clonidine (472 ± 175 mg), and non-abuser patients receiving clonidine (448 ± 160 mg). Hence, a statistically significant difference was observed among the four study groups (P value for ANOVA = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Adding clonidine as a preoperative medication decreases the patient's anesthetic needs; this decrease was even more considerable on the anesthetic needs than the effect of opium abuse history on anesthetic dose.