Does Liposomal Bupivacaine Decrease Postoperative Opioid Use in Conjunction with an Enhanced Recovery After Bariatric Surgery Pathway? A Prospective, Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Minimization of opiate use is an important focus in the setting of the severe national opioid crisis. This study evaluated the role of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) in decreasing postoperative opioid use before and after implementation of a bariatric enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program. METHODS: We performed an IRB-approved, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of LB versus plain bupivacaine (PB) in patients undergoing elective, minimally invasive, weight loss surgery at a comprehensive metabolic and bariatric surgery program from November 2017 to December 2019. Primary outcomes were postoperative morphine milligram equivalents per day (MME/day) and average subjective inpatient pain level. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay (LOS) and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: Of the 100 patients enrolled, 78 were randomly assigned to LB (42) or PB (36). Thirty-four received the ERAS protocol, and 44 did not. The mean MME/day use did not differ significantly by the bupivacaine group [median, IQR PB: 20.3 (40.95); LB: 33.0 (42.9); p = .314], but it did differ by the ERAS group [median, IQR no ERAS 33.2 (47.1), ERAS 24.0 (34.0); p = .049]. Length of stay, inpatient pain score, and AEs did not differ significantly by either the bupivacaine or the ERAS group. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, liposomal bupivacaine did not significantly decrease postoperative opioid use either before implementation of ERAS or as part of an enhanced recovery after surgery program for minimally invasive bariatric surgery procedures.

Development of a survival animal model for subglottic stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a reproducible survival animal model for subglottic stenosis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: We evaluated five methods of inducing airway injury in 30 New Zealand white rabbits to produce a subglottic stenosis model. Experimental groups comprised: group 1 (n = 5), which underwent 4-hour intubation; group 2 (n = 5), which underwent induced subglottic injury with a nylon brush; group 3 (n = 10), which underwent subglottic injury with a nylon brush, followed by 4-hour intubation; group 4 (n = 5), which underwent subglottic injury with Bugbee cautery in 50% of the subglottic circumference, followed by 4-hour intubation; and group 5 (n = 5), which underwent subglottic injury with Bugbee cautery in 75% of the subglottic circumference, followed by 4-hour intubation. Five animals were used as controls. Endoscopy of the airway and sacrifice of animals were planned at an interval of 14 days postinjury. Histologic measurements were analyzed. RESULTS: No animals in groups 1 or 2 developed stenosis. In group 3, 50% of animals developed symptomatic grade 3 subglottic and tracheal stenosis, necessitating early endoscopy and sacrifice in three animals. Four animals in group 4 developed grade 1 subglottic stenosis, and four in group 5 developed grade 2 subglottic stenosis. Histologic measurements of lumen areas within each of these two groups were similar; all animals survived the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: We successfully developed a reproducible survival model for induced subglottic stenosis using a combination of cautery-induced subglottic injury followed by 4-hour intubation. This model lays the foundation for future studies that evaluate endoscopic interventions for the management of subglottic stenosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 129:989-994, 2019.