The effect of anterior quadratus lumborum block on morphine consumption in minimally invasive colorectal surgery: a multicentre, double-blind, prospective randomised placebo-controlled trial.

We investigated the efficacy and safety of a bilateral anterior quadratus lumborum block in patients undergoing minimally invasive colorectal surgery. This was a two-centre, double-blind, prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled trial including 150 patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery (left- or right hemicolectomy, sigmoidectomy) who were enrolled in the institutional abdominal enhanced recovery programme. Before induction of anaesthesia, patients received a bilateral anterior quadratus lumborum block in the left and right lateral decubitus position under ultrasound guidance and were allocated randomly to receive 30 ml of ropivacaine 0.375% (n = 75) or placebo (saline 0.9%) (n = 75) bilaterally. Postoperatively, all patients received multimodal intravenous analgesia including paracetamol, ketorolac and patient-controlled analgesia with morphine. The primary outcome was morphine consumption during the first 24 h after tracheal extubation. Secondary outcomes included severity of pain; presence and extent of sensory block; incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting; and hospital duration of stay. We also investigated the need for, and dose of, rescue analgesia. Safety outcomes included the incidence of adverse events. Mean (SD) 24-hour morphine consumption was no different between patients allocated to ropivacaine and placebo (28.6 (22.3) mg vs. 28.4 (22.5) mg, p = 0.966, respectively). While a sensory block could be detected in significantly more patients allocated to the ropivacaine group, no differences were detected in pain scores or other secondary or safety endpoints. Patient satisfaction scores were high in both groups. In laparoscopic colorectal surgery, adding a bilateral anterior quadratus lumborum block to a standard multimodal analgesia regimen did not reduce opioid consumption or improve pain scores.

Simplified algorithm for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a before-and-after study.

BACKGROUND: Poor adherence to guidelines aimed at reducing the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is well known. In a before-and-after study, we tested the effectiveness of a simplified algorithm for PONV prophylaxis on the incidence of PONV. METHODS: In the first audit, we examined the adherence to our institutional guidelines for PONV prevention. In response to the results of this audit, we introduced a simplified algorithm for PONV prevention [female patients receiving triple prophylaxis (dexamethasone and ondansetron plus either a target-controlled infusion with propofol or droperidol) and male patients receiving double prophylaxis, dexamethasone, and ondansetron]. The impact of the simplification of the PONV algorithm was evaluated in a second audit. In both audits, we reviewed the medical records of all adult patients undergoing elective non-cardiac non-day-case surgery under general anaesthesia and being admitted to our post-anaesthesia care unit during two arbitrarily chosen weeks. We assessed the incidence of nausea, vomiting, and PONV after 1 and 24 h, and the compliance with the departmental algorithm for PONV prophylaxis. RESULTS: After simplification of the PONV algorithm, the overall incidence of PONV within 24 h after surgery was significantly lower than before the implementation of the simplified PONV algorithm (22% vs 33%, P=0.02). The PONV incidence within 1 h was comparable between the audits (11% vs 14%, P=0.45). The adherence to departmental guidelines for PONV prophylaxis was significantly higher after the implementation of the simplified PONV algorithm (46% vs 18%, P=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A simplified algorithm for PONV prophylaxis resulted in a significant reduction in the PONV incidence and better compliance with the PONV algorithm.

Systemic lidocaine fails to improve postoperative morphine consumption, postoperative recovery and quality of life in patients undergoing posterior spinal arthrodesis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND.: It is inconclusive whether the perioperative administration of systemic lidocaine provides effective postoperative analgesia and enhances recovery in major orthopaedic surgery. We hypothesised that in adolescent and adult patients undergoing posterior spinal arthrodesis, a perioperative lidocaine infusion would reduce opioid requirements during the first 24 postoperative h. METHODS.: 70 patients undergoing posterior arthrodesis were enrolled in this prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients received total i.v. anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil and were randomized to an adjuvant therapy with either lidocaine [i.v.-bolus injection of 1.5 mg kg -1 at induction of anaesthesia, followed by an infusion of 1.5 mg kg -1 h -1 which was continued until six h after arrival at the post-anaesthesia care unit] or placebo (equal volumes of saline). Postoperative pain was treated with patient-controlled i.v. morphine. Primary endpoints of this study were morphine requirements in the first postoperative 24 h. RESULTS.: Systemic lidocaine did not decrease morphine requirements in the first 24 postoperative h [lidocaine-group: 48 (23) mg (mean( sd )) vs placebo-group: 51(19) mg, P = 0.22]. Likewise, groups were not different with respect to the severity of postoperative pain, morphine consumption after 48 and 72 h, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, perioperative inflammation, time to recovery of intestinal function, hospital length of stay, and quality of life (assessed preoperatively and one month postoperatively using the SF-12 physical and mental composite scores). CONCLUSIONS.: In our study, systemic lidocaine had no analgesic benefits in posterior arthrodesis when added to an opioid-based anaesthetic regimen. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION.: Eudra CT 2012-005264-98.

Dental abnormalities, bone graft quality, and periodontal conditions in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate at different phases of orthodontic treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the dental and periodontal condition of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) before orthodontic treatment and evaluate whether the dental and periodontal condition of these patients during and after orthodontic treatment was jeopardized by the duration of the orthodontic and surgical treatment. DESIGN: Seventy-five individuals with UCLP (52 males, 23 females), between ages 8 and 20 years, participated in a retrospective study during their final follow-up visit with regard to dental abnormalities, such as hypodontia, external root resorption, crown and root malformation, and supernumerary teeth. Alveolar bone height and periodontal attachment loss on the cleft side were also screened before or after bone grafting and at different stages of orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: Hypodontia of the lateral incisor was found in more than 50% of the patients on the cleft side. Second premolars and/or lateral incisors outside the cleft area were missing in 27.2% of the patients. In 32%, malformations of the teeth near the cleft were noticed. In general, the teeth around and in the cleft of the patients showed normal septal bone heights and a healthy periodontium. Sixty of the 75 patients received a bone graft to restore the interrupted alveolar process. In 93.3% of these patients, the cleft was grafted before the eruption of the canine. CONCLUSION: The periodontium of the teeth in and around the cleft in patients with UCLP observed during and after orthodontic treatment can cope relatively well with the long orthodontic treatment and combined surgical interventions. The children, who had not yet started treatment, also showed enough bone support and no periodontal problems of the teeth besides the cleft. Early secondary bone grafting seems to give optimal periodontal results.

A split-mouth study on periodontal and microbial parameters in children with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.

BACKGROUND: Complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) is a hereditary or multifactorial malformation that can be corrected successfully with a combined orthodontic, surgical and restorative treatment. Such multidisciplinary treatment takes many years and demands a lot of attention to both patients' teeth and periodontium. OBJECTIVES: This split-mouth study aimed to compare the periodontal health as well as the microbial parameters between cleft and non-cleft region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 75 patients (52 males, 23 females) between 8 and 20 years with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (before (n = 30), during (n = 34) and after (n = 11) the active orthodontic treatment) volunteered for this study. Four regions were defined for the split-mouth comparison: teeth neighbouring cleft (site 1), tooth in cleft (site 2), and the corresponding contra-lateral teeth, respectively, in the unaffected quadrants (sites 3 and 4). At all sites the following periodontal parameters were recorded: plaque and gingivitis indices, pocket depth, attachment loss, bleeding on probing, tooth mobility (visual and Periotest), radiographic bone loss and gingival width. In addition, three pooled subgingival plaque samples were taken (around tooth in cleft, teeth facing the cleft, and contra-lateral teeth of the latter). RESULTS: The differences between the teeth neighbouring the cleft and the corresponding contra-lateral opponents were of borderline significance (P