Postoperative continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic reduces pain scores and narcotic use after lower extremity revascularization

Objective

Postoperative pain following lower extremity revascularization procedures is traditionally controlled with narcotic administration. However, this may not adequately control the pain and puts the patient at risk for complications from opiate use. Here we report an alternative strategy for pain management using a continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic into the operative limb.

Design

Retrospective case–control study.

Methods

Patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization procedures using continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic were compared to similar patients undergoing similar procedures during the same time period who did not receive continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic. Records were reviewed for pain scores, narcotics consumption, length of stay, need for postoperative chest X-ray, supplemental oxygen use, wound complications, and 30-day readmission.

Results

There were 153 patients (mean age 69.5 years) from September 2011 to December 2014 who underwent common femoral artery procedures, femoral-popliteal bypass, femoral-tibial bypass, popliteal aneurysm repair, popliteal to pedal bypass, popliteal artery thrombo-embolectomy, sapheno-popliteal venous bypass, or ilio-femoral bypass. There were no significant differences between the continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic ( n=57) and control ( n=96) groups regarding age, body mass index, cardiac history, diabetes, hypertension, and procedures performed. The continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic group showed better cumulative average pain scores, better high pain scores on postoperative days 1–3, and better average pain scores on postoperative days 2–3 ( P<0.03). The continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic group had lower median narcotics consumption on postoperative days 1–2 ( P=0.02). No differences were found in postoperative length of stay, urinary catheter use, number of postoperative chest X-rays, oxygen use, mobilization, or fever. Wound complications occurred in 8.8% of the continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic group and in 11.5% of controls (P=0.79). Readmission rates were 23% (continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic) and 21% (controls; P=0.84).

Conclusion

Postoperative continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic reduces pain scores and pain medication use compared to standard opiate therapy in these patients, without increasing wound complication or readmission rates. Continuous catheter-infused local anesthetic appeared to have no effect on the incidence of pulmonary complications, mobilization, or fever.

Results of repair of iliac artery aneurysms with the sandwich technique

Patients undergoing endovascular repair (EVAR) of aortoiliac or iliac artery aneurysm may require sacrifice of one or both internal iliac arteries (IIAs). Until Food and Drug Administration-approved commercial grafts became available, endovascular IIA preservation was accomplished using the "sandwich" technique, but limited information is available regarding the results of this method. After obtaining institutional review board approval, we identified patients undergoing IIA preservation with the sandwich technique during EVAR at our institution. The patients have been followed prospectively since being identified to record patency rates and vascular symptoms or events. Twenty-four procedures were performed from 2011 through 2015 to treat iliac artery aneurysms. Fourteen of these procedures were done with concomitant EVAR using different endografts (Gore Excluder 11, Endologix AFX 2, Cook Zenith 1). Five were done to extend a previous EVAR that had developed a type Ib endoleak, 2 for an isolated external iliac artery aneurysm, 3 for an anastomotic aneurysm from a previous aortobiiliac graft, and 2 for isolated iliac aneurysm repair. There were 25 sandwich grafts (unilateral in 19, bilateral in 6). Contralateral embolization was performed in 5 cases. Immediate success rates were high, and patency rates were excellent at intermediate follow-up. Intraoperative type 3 endoleaks were not uncommon but usually resolved postoperatively. Endovascular IIA preservation is feasible with currently available devices using this technique. This procedure is recommended for preservation of the IIA during endovascular treatment of aortoiliac and iliac artery aneurysms when anatomy requires IIA preservation.

Palmar artery aneurysm

Aneurysms of the hand are rarely encountered and more rarely reported. The least common locations of these aneurysms are the palmar and digital arteries. The etiologies of these entities are quite varied, although they usually present as a pulsatile mass. Following a thorough evaluation, including arterial anatomic imaging, they should be repaired. The reported results following repair have been good. Herein we report a girl with a spontaneous palmar artery aneurysm and its management.