Multicenter Assessment of Cryoanalgesia Use in Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum: A 20-center Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical implications of cryoanalgesia for pain management in children undergoing minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE). BACKGROUND: MIRPE entails significant pain management challenges, often requiring high postoperative opioid use. Cryoanalgesia, which blocks pain signals by temporarily ablating intercostal nerves, has been recently utilized as an analgesic adjunct. We hypothesized that the use of cryoanalgesia during MIRPE would decrease postoperative opioid use and length of stay (LOS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study of 20 US children's hospitals was conducted of children (age below 18 years) undergoing MIRPE from January 1, 2014, to August 1, 2019. Differences in total postoperative, inpatient, oral morphine equivalents per kilogram, and 30-day LOS between patients who received cryoanalgesia versus those who did not were assessed using bivariate and multivariable analysis. P value <0.05 is considered significant. RESULTS: Of 898 patients, 136 (15%) received cryoanalgesia. Groups were similar by age, sex, body mass index, comorbidities, and Haller index. Receipt of cryoanalgesia was associated with lower oral morphine equivalents per kilogram (risk ratio=0.43, 95% confidence interval: 0.33-0.57) and a shorter LOS (risk ratio=0.66, 95% confidence interval: 0.50-0.87). Complications were similar between groups (29.8% vs 22.1, P =0.07), including a similar rate of emergency department visit, readmission, and/or reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Use of cryoanalgesia during MIRPE appears to be effective in lowering postoperative opioid requirements and LOS without increasing complication rates. With the exception of preoperative gabapentin, other adjuncts appear to increase and/or be ineffective at reducing opioid utilization. Cryoanalgesia should be considered for patients undergoing this surgery.

Opioid Prescribing and Use After Pediatric Umbilical Hernia Repair.

BACKGROUND: Opioid overuse is a concern in adult and pediatric populations. Physician education may improve appropriate opioid prescribing and patient instruction for use. Prescribing and use of opioid for pain control after pediatric umbilical hernia repair (UH) before and after surgeon education was evaluated. This is a substudy of a multi-institutional study assessing prescribing practice before and after surgeon education. This study further assessed patient prescription filling pattern and parent report of pain control. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed evaluating children who underwent UH 6 months before and after an educational presentation on opioid use. Prescriptions, prescription fills, patient medication use, and pain control effectiveness were assessed. Adverse events were collected. RESULTS: There were 78 subjects in the pre- and 99 in the posteducation group. Opioid prescribed changed from 98.7% to 61.6% (P < .0001), and nonopioid prescriptions increased following education (P = .0063). The number of opioid prescriptions filled decreased (P = .0296). There were limited data on opioid doses used and quality of pain control, but the posteducation group showed good pain control. There was no difference in adverse events. DISCUSSION: Surgeon education on current opioid epidemic and strategies for opioid stewardship improves opioid prescribing and use without adversely impacting pain control or clinical outcome.