Effect of Preoperative Oral Amantadine on Acute and Chronic Postoperative Pain After Mandibular Fracture Surgery

Efficacy of memantine premedication in alleviating postoperative pain- A systematic review and meta-analysis

Many premedication agents with opioid-sparing properties have been used in patients undergoing various elective surgeries. Memantine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist that has been used by many researchers as an opioid-sparing strategy. Various databases like PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov were searched after registering the review protocol in PROSPERO for randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the efficacy and safety of memantine premedication in adult patients undergoing various elective surgeries. The risk of bias (RoB-2) scale was used to assess the quality of evidence. From the 225 articles that were identified after a database search, 3 studies were included for a qualitative systematic review and a quantitative meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed that the use of memantine provided better pain scores at 2nd (mean difference: -0.82, 95% CI: -1.60, -0.05, P = 0.04) with significant heterogeneity (P = 0.06; I² =71%), and 6 hours postoperatively (mean difference: -1.80, 95% CI: -2.23, -1.37, P < 0.00001), but not at 1 hour. The sedation scores at 1 hour were higher in the memantine group but comparable in the 2nd hour. The number of doses of rescue analgesia and nausea/vomiting in the postoperative period was comparable in both groups. The results of this review suggest that memantine premedication could provide better pain scores in the immediate postoperative period with acceptable adverse effects. However, the current evidence is insufficient to suggest the routine use of memantine as a premedication before elective surgeries.

Strategies aimed at preventing long-term opioid use in trauma and orthopaedic surgery: a scoping review

Background

Long-term opioid use, which may have significant individual and societal impacts, has been documented in up to 20% of patients after trauma or orthopaedic surgery. The objectives of this scoping review were to systematically map the research on strategies aiming to prevent chronic opioid use in these populations and to identify knowledge gaps in this area.

Methods

This scoping review is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. We searched seven databases and websites of relevant organizations. Selected studies and guidelines were published between January 2008 and September 2021. Preventive strategies were categorized as: system-based, pharmacological, educational, multimodal, and others. We summarized findings using measures of central tendency and frequency along with p-values. We also reported the level of evidence and the strength of recommendations presented in clinical guidelines.

Results

A total of 391 studies met the inclusion criteria after initial screening from which 66 studies and 20 guidelines were selected. Studies mainly focused on orthopaedic surgery (62,1%), trauma (30.3%) and spine surgery (7.6%). Among system-based strategies, hospital-based individualized opioid tapering protocols, and regulation initiatives limiting the prescription of opioids were associated with statistically significant decreases in morphine equivalent doses (MEDs) at 1 to 3 months following trauma and orthopaedic surgery. Among pharmacological strategies, only the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and beta blockers led to a significant reduction in MEDs up to 12 months after orthopaedic surgery. Most studies on educational strategies, multimodal strategies and psychological strategies were associated with significant reductions in MEDs beyond 1 month. The majority of recommendations from clinical practice guidelines were of low level of evidence.

Conclusions

This scoping review advances knowledge on existing strategies to prevent long-term opioid use in trauma and orthopaedic surgery patients. We observed that system-based, educational, multimodal and psychological strategies are the most promising. Future research should focus on determining which strategies should be implemented particularly in trauma patients at high risk for long-term use, testing those that can promote a judicious prescription of opioids while preventing an illicit use, and evaluating their effects on relevant patient-reported and social outcomes.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Opioid Prescribing for Analgesia After Common Otolaryngology Operations

OBJECTIVE

Opioid use disorder (OUD), which includes the morbidity of dependence and mortality of overdose, has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Overprescription of opioids can lead to chronic use and misuse, and unused narcotics after surgery can lead to their diversion. Research supports that most patients do not take all the prescribed opioids after surgery and that surgeons are the second largest prescribers of opioids in the United States. The introduction of opioids in those with OUD often begins with prescription opioids. Reducing the number of extra opioids available after surgery through smaller prescriptions, safe storage, and disposal should reduce the risk of opioid use disorder in otolaryngology patients and their families.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this specialty-specific guideline is to identify quality improvement opportunities in postoperative pain management of common otolaryngologic surgical procedures. These opportunities are communicated through clear actionable statements with explanation of the support in the literature, evaluation of the quality of the evidence, and recommendations on implementation. Employing these action statements should reduce the variation in care across the specialty and improve postoperative pain control while reducing risk of OUD. The target patients for the guideline are any patients treated for anticipated or reported pain within the first 30 days after undergoing common otolaryngologic procedures. The target audience of the guideline is otolaryngologists who perform surgery and clinicians who manage pain after surgical procedures. Outcomes to be considered include whether the patient has stopped using opioids, has disposed of unused opioids, and was satisfied with the pain management plan.The guideline addresses assessment of the patient for OUD risk factors, counseling on pain expectations, and identifying factors that can affect pain duration and/or severity. It also discusses the use of multimodal analgesia as first-line treatment and the responsible use of opioids. Last, safe disposal of unused opioids is discussed.This guideline is intended to focus on evidence-based quality improvement opportunities judged most important by the guideline development group. It is not a comprehensive guide on pain management in otolaryngologic procedures. The statements in this guideline are not intended to limit or restrict care provided by clinicians based on their experiences and assessments of individual patients.

ACTION STATEMENTS

The guideline development group made strong recommendations for the following key action statements: (3A) prior to surgery, clinicians should identify risk factors for opioid use disorder when analgesia using opioids is anticipated; (6) clinicians should advocate for nonopioid medications as first-line management of pain after otolaryngologic surgery; (9) clinicians should recommend that patients (or their caregivers) store prescribed opioids securely and dispose of unused opioids through take-back programs or another accepted method.The guideline development group made recommendations for the following key action statements: (1) prior to surgery, clinicians should advise patients and others involved in the postoperative care about the expected duration and severity of pain; (2) prior to surgery, clinicians should gather information specific to the patient that modifies severity and/or duration of pain; (3B) in patients at risk for OUD, clinicians should evaluate the need to modify the analgesia plan; (4) clinicians should promote shared decision making by informing patients of the benefits and risks of postoperative pain treatments that include nonopioid analgesics, opioid analgesics, and nonpharmacologic interventions; (5) clinicians should develop a multimodal treatment plan for managing postoperative pain; (7) when treating postoperative pain with opioids, clinicians should limit therapy to the lowest effective dose and the shortest duration; (8A) clinicians should instruct patients and caregivers how to communicate if pain is not controlled or if medication side effects occur; (8B) clinicians should educate patients to stop opioids when pain is controlled with nonopioids and stop all analgesics when pain has resolved; (10) clinicians should inquire, within 30 days of surgery, whether the patient has stopped using opioids, has disposed of unused opioids, and was satisfied with the pain management plan.

Pharmacotherapy for the Prevention of Chronic Pain after Surgery in Adults: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic postsurgical pain can severely impair patient health and quality of life. This systematic review update evaluated the effectiveness of systemic drugs to prevent chronic postsurgical pain.

METHODS

The authors included double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trials including adults that evaluated perioperative systemic drugs. Studies that evaluated same drug(s) administered similarly were pooled. The primary outcome was the proportion reporting any pain at 3 or more months postsurgery.

RESULTS

The authors identified 70 new studies and 40 from 2013. Most evaluated ketamine, pregabalin, gabapentin, IV lidocaine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids. Some meta-analyses showed statistically significant-but of unclear clinical relevance-reductions in chronic postsurgical pain prevalence after treatment with pregabalin, IV lidocaine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Meta-analyses with more than three studies and more than 500 participants showed no effect of ketamine on prevalence of any pain at 6 months when administered for 24 h or less (risk ratio, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.36 to 1.07]; prevalence, 0 to 88% ketamine; 0 to 94% placebo) or more than 24 h (risk ratio, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.74 to 1.12]; 6 to 71% ketamine; 5 to 78% placebo), no effect of pregabalin on prevalence of any pain at 3 months (risk ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.70 to 1.10]; 4 to 88% pregabalin; 3 to 80% placebo) or 6 months (risk ratio, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.47 to 1.28]; 6 to 68% pregabalin; 4 to 69% placebo) when administered more than 24 h, and an effect of pregabalin on prevalence of moderate/severe pain at 3 months when administered more than 24 h (risk ratio, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.33 to 0.68]; 0 to 20% pregabalin; 4 to 34% placebo). However, the results should be interpreted with caution given small study sizes, variable surgical types, dosages, timing and method of outcome measurements in relation to the acute pain trajectory in question, and preoperative pain status.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite agreement that chronic postsurgical pain is an important topic, extremely little progress has been made since 2013, likely due to study designs being insufficient to address the complexities of this multifactorial problem.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Bilateral mandibular block improves pain relief and morphine consumption in mandibular osteotomies: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The sensory innervation of the lower jaw mainly depends on the third root of the trigeminal nerve, the mandibular nerve (V3). The aim of this single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bilateral V3 block for postoperative analgesia management in mandibular osteotomies.

METHODS

107 patients undergoing mandibular surgery (75 scheduled osteotomies and 32 mandible fractures) were randomized in two groups. A bilateral V3 block was performed in each group, either with ropivacaine 0.75% (block group, n=50) or with a placebo (placebo group, n=57). A postoperative multimodal analgesia was equally provided to both groups. The primary outcome was the cumulative morphine consumption at 24 hours. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of severe pain and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the first 24 hours. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.

RESULTS

The cumulative morphine consumption at 24 hours was significantly lower in the block group (median 8.0 mg (IQR 2.0-21.3) vs 12.0 mg (IQR 8.0-22.0), p=0.03), as well as the incidence of severe pain during the 24 hours of follow-up (4.0% vs 22.8%, p<0.01). The mandibular block had no impact on the incidence of PONV.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral V3 block for mandibular osteotomies is an effective opioid-sparing procedure. It provided better postoperative analgesia in the first 24 hours, and it did not affect PONV incidence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02618993.

Perioperative implications of common and newer psychotropic medications used in clinical practice

Psychotropic medications are widely prescribed by clinicians as both primary therapy for a variety of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases and as adjunctive analgesics for use in the perioperative period. It is critical to understand various modes of action, drug-drug interactions, side effects, and clinical implications. Health care providers must understand how these medications interact with anesthetics, as well as other drugs used in perioperative care. We review relevant psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, psychotropic medications used to treat them, and how these medications interact with anesthetics and drugs used in perioperative care. We will also discuss emerging psychotropic drugs and the challenges they may create during the perioperative period. Future direction of investigation into the role of these drugs during the perioperative period and implications is also discussed.

A Review of Adjunctive CNS Medications Used for the Treatment of Post-Surgical Pain

Inadequate post-operative pain management can have significant impacts on patients' quality of life. Effective management of acute pain after surgery is important for early mobilization and discharge from hospital, patient satisfaction, and overall well-being. Utilizing multimodal analgesic strategies has become the mainstay of acute post-operative pain management. A comprehensive search was performed, assessing the published or otherwise publically available literature on different central nervous system (CNS) drugs [excluding opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and acetaminophen] and their uses to treat acute post-surgical pain. Included among the drugs evaluated in this review are anticonvulsants, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) agonists, local anesthetics, α₂-agonists, cannabinoids, serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and serotonin-noradrenaline-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (SNDRIs). Timing, dosing, routes of administration, as well as mechanisms of action are discussed for these CNS drugs.