Paravertebral Dexmedetomidine in Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgeries for Acute and Chronic Pain Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is considered as one of the minimally invasive surgeries. Early postoperative pain alleviation is very important to avoid complications, at the same time, proper early pain control is an established fact to decrease the incidence of chronic pain. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of thoracic paravertebral block (PVB) by a bupivacaine/ dexmedetomidine mixture on acute and chronic post-thoracoscopic surgery pain in patients undergoing VATS. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized prospective double-blinded trial. SETTING: Assiut University Hospitals, Orman Cardiology Hospital. METHODS: Sixty adult patients underwent elective VATS surgery under general anesthesia randomly allocated into 2 groups; Group I received thoracic PVB with isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% (0.3 mL/kg) and Group II received PVB with isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% (0.3 mL/kg) and dexmedetomidine (1 mcg/kg). Postoperative pain (at rest, with cough, and with movement) was assessed through a visual analog scale (VAS) every 30 minutes in the first 2 hours, then at the second, fourth, eighth, and 24th hours. Time to first analgesia request and consumption of intravenous rescue analgesia (ketorolac tromethamine 30 mg/dose) was recorded. Follow-up of the patients regarding the incidence of chronic post-thoracoscopic pain by the end of the third and sixth months after the procedure was reviewed through the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) pain scale. RESULTS: VAS score was significantly lower in Group II during the early postoperative 90 minute records. Pain with cough and with movement persisted to be significantly lower in Group II up to the second postoperative hour. Time to first analgesia requirement was significantly longer in Group II in comparison to Group (P < 0.001). There was less ketorolac consumption in Group II than in Group I (P = 0.002). At the third month, Group II showed significantly lower incidence of LANSS pain scale than Group I (P = 0.04). LIMITATIONS: There was the heterogeneity of surgical procedures in the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine PVB offers better pain relief during the early postoperative hours, and it carries a favorable effect on chronic postoperative pain.Clinical trial registry number: NCT03632161. KEY WORDS: Dexmedetomidine, paravertebral block, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, postoperative pain, chronic pain.

Effects of terlipressin infusion during hepatobiliary surgery on systemic and splanchnic haemodynamics, renal function and blood loss: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Terlipressin, in general, is a vasopressor which acts via V1 receptors. Its infusion elevates mean blood pressure and can reduce bleeding which has a splanchnic origin. The primary outcome was to assess the impact of intraoperative terlipressin infusion on portal venous pressure during hepatobiliary surgery; the 2ry outcomes included effects upon systemic hemodynamics, estimated blood loss, and postoperative renal functions. METHODS: This prospective randomized study involved 50 patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery who were randomly and equally allocated into terlipressin group, or a control group. The terlipressin group received an initial bolus dose of (1 mg over 30 min) followed by a continuous infusion of 2 µg/kg/h throughout the procedure and gradually weaned over the first four postoperative hours, whereas the control group received the same volumes of normal saline. The portal venous pressure changes were measured directly through a portal vein angiocatheter. RESULTS: Portal pressure was significantly reduced over time in the terlipressin group only (from 17.88 ± 7.32 to 15.96 ± 6.55 mmHg, p < .001). Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly higher in the terlipressin group. Estimated blood loss was significantly higher in the control group than the terlipressin group (1065.7 ± 202 versus 842 ± 145.5 ml; p = 0.004), and the units of packed RBCs transfused were significantly higher in the control group ((0-2) versus (0-4) p = 0.003). There was no significant difference between groups as regards the incidence of acute kidney injury. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative infusion of terlipressin during hepatobiliary surgery was shown to improve intraoperative portal hemodynamics with subsequent reduction in blood loss. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial number and registry URL: Trial registration number: NCT02718599 . Name of registry: ClinicalTrials.gov. URL of registry: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02718599 . Date of registration: March 2016. Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: April 2016.

The impact of caudally administrated tramadol on immune response and analgesic efficacy for pediatric patients: a comparative randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Immune responses appear to be affected by anesthetics and analgesics. We investigated the effects of caudal tramadol on the postoperative immune response and pain management in pediatric patients. METHODS: Sixty ASA-I pediatric patients aged 3-10 years undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Patients were randomly assigned either to a caudal bupivacaine (0.25%) group (group B), or a group that received caudal tramadol (1 mg/kg) added to the bupivacaine (0.25%) (group T). Both were diluted in a 0.9% NaCl solution to a total volume of 1ml/kg. The systemic immune response was measured by collecting blood samples preoperatively, at the end of anesthesia, and at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively, and studied for interleukin IL-6, C-reactive proteins (CRP) cortisol levels, and leucocytes with its differential count. Postoperative pain was assessed along with sedation scales. RESULTS: Postoperative production of IL-6 was significantly higher in group B at the end of anesthesia, than at the 24th hour, and at the 72nd hour in group B and group T, respectively. The immune response showed leukocytosis with increased percentages of neutrophil and monocytes, and a decreased lymphocyte response rate within both groups with no significant differences between the groups. Cortisol and CRP were significantly higher in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Adding tramadol to a caudal bupivacaine block can attenuate the pro-inflammatory cytokine response, Cortisol, and CRP in children undergoing lower abdominal surgery.

Pain alleviation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery; presternal local anesthetic and magnesium infiltration versus conventional intravenous analgesia: a randomized double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: Magnesium is one of the effective, safe local anesthetic adjuvants that can exert an analgesic effect in conditions presenting acute and chronic post-sternotomy pain. We studied the efficacy of continuous infusion of presternal magnesium sulfate with bupivacaine for pain relief following cardiac surgery. METHODS: Ninety adult patients undergoing valve replacement cardiac surgery randomly allocated into three groups. In all patients; a presternal catheter was placed for continuous infusion of either 0.125% bupivacaine and 5% magnesium sulfate (3 ml/h for 48 hours) in group 1, or 0.125% bupivacaine only in the same rate in group 2, versus conventional intravenous paracetamol and ketorolac in group 3. Rescue analgesia was iv 25 µg fentanyl. Postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and fentanyl consumption during the early two postoperative days were assessed. All patients were followed up over two months for occurrence of chronic post-sternotomy pain. RESULTS: VAS values showed high significant differences during the first 48 hours with the least pain scale in group 1 and significantly least fentanyl consumption (30.8 ± 7 µg in group 1 vs. 69 ± 18 µg in group 2, and 162 ± 3 in group 3 respectively). The incidence of chronic pain has not differed between the three groups although it was more pronounced in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous presternal bupivacaine and magnesium infusion resulted in better postoperative analgesia than both presternal bupivacaine alone or conventional analgesic groups.

Comparison of dexamethasone or intravenous fluids or combination of both on postoperative nausea, vomiting and pain in pediatric strabismus surgery.

BACKGROUND: Strabismus surgery is perhaps a pediatric surgical procedure that has the strongest evidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) risk. This randomized controlled blind study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy of dexamethasone and intraoperative superhydration vs their monotherapy on the incidence and severity of PONV and on pain intensity after pediatric strabismus surgery. METHODS: A total of 120 children aged 6 to 12 years undergoing strabismus surgery were randomized to equally 3 groups to receive 0.15 mg/kg dexamethasone (dexamethasone group) or intraoperative superhydration of lactated Ringer's solution in a dose of 30 mL/kg per fasting time (superhydration group), or a combination of dexamethasone and intraoperative fluid in the same strategy (combination therapy group). The incidence and severity of PONV and pain using visual analog scale score, and need for supplemental antiemetic and analgesic therapy and their consumptions were assessed and compared in the 3 studied groups for 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV and postoperative vomiting was significantly lower (P> .001) in the combination therapy group (5% and 5% respectively) compared with the dexamethasone group (35% and 30%) and superhydration group (32.5% and 35%). There was no significant difference among patients in the superhydration group and dexamethasone group in the cumulative incidences of PONV in the whole 24 hours postoperatively. Postoperative aggregated visual analog scale pain score and total acetaminophen consumption showed a significant reduction (P> .05) in the combination therapy group together with significant prolongation of time to the first analgesic request compared with both the superhydration group and the dexamethasone group. CONCLUSION: Combined therapy of 0.15 mg/kg dexamethasone 1 minute before induction and intraoperative fluid superhydration is an effective and safe way to reduce PONV and pain better than monotherapy of dexamethasone, or intraoperative superhydration separately for pediatric strabismus surgery.