Association of peripheral nerve blocks with patient-reported quality of recovery in female patients receiving breast cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

Effect of opioid-free anesthesia combined with pectoral nerve block on the quality of recovery in patients after mastectomy: A randomized, controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) combined with regional blocks on the quality of recovery (QoR) in patients who underwent mastectomy.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial involved 132 mastectomy patients who were randomized to receive either OFA combined with PECS block or opioid-based anesthesia (OBA) combined with PECS block. The QoR was assessed using the QoR-15 global score at 24 h post-surgery. Secondary outcomes included postoperative sufentanil consumption, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores at 1, 4, and 24 h, incidence of postoperative adverse events, extubation, incidence of severe bradycardia and intraoperative mean artrial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) at after entering the operating room (T0, baseline value), after intubation (T1), after skin incision (T2), and after extubation (T3).

RESULTS

The QoR-15 global score at 24 h was not significantly different between groups (MD = -0.4, 95% CI [-3.8 to 4.7], P = 0.67). Postoperative sufentanil consumptions (P = 0.075), the incidence of PONV (P = 0.12), NRS scores at 1 h (P = 0.36), 4 h (P = 0.53), and 24 h (P = 0.02) were not significantly different. Incidence of adverse events (OR = 0, 95% CI [0 to 0.44], P = 0.0063) were lower in Group OFA than that in Group OBA. Extubation time was significantly longer in Group OFA than in Group OBA (MD = 15, 95%CI [10-18], P <  0.001). MAPs at T1 and T2 were significantly higher in Group OFA than in Group OBA (P <  0.0125), while MAP and HR at T3 were significantly lower in Group OFA than in Group OBA(P <  0.0125). Incidence of severe bradycardia were not significantly different (P = 0.67).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, while OFA contributes to a reduction in adverse events, its integration with PECS blocks does not improve QoR or postoperative analgesia at 24 h post-mastectomy. Moreover, OFA was associated with a prolonged extubation time.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

chictr.org; registration number: ChiCTR2100043575.

Quality of Postoperative Recovery in Patients Undergoing Video Laparoscopy Cholecystectomy in a University Hospital

Postoperative recovery (PR) is a complex, multifactorial process, resulting largely from the confluence of physical, physiological, and psychological factors. The Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire is a tool used to assess patient's satisfaction with their recovery after surgery. The primary objective of the study is to use the QoR-15 questionnaire to describe and compare the preoperative and 24-hour postoperative scores in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) surgery. This is a cross-sectional, single-center study carried out on patients undergoing ELC, aged 18-70 years, and classified as ASA Physical Status I-III. Patients were invited to answer the QoR-15 during hospitalization, preoperatively, and the next day after the procedure. Data collected included age, sex, weight, height, preoperative fasting time, anesthesia technique, analgesic use (intraoperative and postoperative), duration of anesthesia and surgery, and antiemetic use. Data normality was checked using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Wilcoxon, Fisher's exact, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests were used when appropriate. Data from 116 patients were analyzed. In our hospital, the postoperative QOR-15 was 136 (IQR: 142.0-121.7), scoring in the "excellent" category. However, there was no significant difference in relation to the preoperative QoR-15 score of 135 (IQR: 143.0-125.0), p = 0.4803. When the postoperative scores were analyzed categorically, statistically significant differences were observed for the variables of gender (p = 0.0052) and anesthetic technique (p = 0.0462). This study demonstrates that patients undergoing ELC achieved excellent postoperative recovery. Gender and anesthetic techniques appear to influence recovery quality. Further multicenter studies are required to validate these findings in diverse populations and surgical contexts.

The Scalp Nerve Block Combined with Intercostal Nerve Block Improves Recovery After Deep Brain Stimulation in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective

To explore the effect of scalp nerve block (SNB) combined with intercostal nerve block (ICNB) on quality of recovery (QoR) after deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods

We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial in which 88 patients with PD were randomly assigned to undergo SNB combined with ICNB (SNB group) or not (control group) before surgery. The primary outcome was the 15-item QoR (QoR-15) score 24 h after surgery. The secondary outcomes included QoR-15 scores at 72 h and 1 month after surgery, pain-related events, recovery events in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), duration of anesthesia and surgery, and nerve block-related adverse events.

Results

The QoR-15 score at 24 h after surgery was significantly higher in SNB group than Control group: 122.0 ± 7.6 vs 113.5 ± 11.3 (P = 0.006). SNB combined with ICNB improved QoR-15 scores at 72 h (P = 0.004) but not at 1 month after surgery (P = 0.230). The SNB group was positively related to QoR-15 scores 24 h after surgery (β = 8.92; 95% CI = 4.52~13.32) after adjusting for confounding variables. The numeric rating scale pain scores at PACU discharge and at 24 h, intraoperative opioid consumption, rescue analgesic use, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in SNB group were significantly lower than Control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Preoperative SNB combined with ICNB improved QoR and analgesia after surgery, and reduced intraoperative opioid consumption and the incidence of PONV in patients with PD who underwent DBS.

Comparing subjective quality of recovery between remimazolam- and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia for surgical procedures: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Remimazolam is a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine that has been recently introduced as an alternative to propofol for general anesthesia. While both agents have been compared in terms of safety and efficacy, their relative effects on postoperative quality of recovery (QoR) remain unclear. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to compare the effects of remimazolam and propofol on subjective QoR in surgical patients who underwent general anesthesia.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to May 28, 2024 to identify randomized controlled trials comparing remimazolam and propofol in terms of postoperative QoR. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB 2) was used to assess study quality. QoR score on postoperative day (POD) 1 (primary outcome), QoR scores on PODs 2-3, QoR dimensions, time to loss of consciousness, other recovery characteristics, and rescue analgesia requirement were evaluated using random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included 13 studies published between 2022 and 2024 involving 1,418 patients. QoR was evaluated using either the QoR-15 (10 studies) or QoR-40 (3 studies) questionnaire. The pooled results indicated no significant difference in the QoR scores on POD 1 (standardized mean difference: 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: - 0.20, 0.23, P = 0.88, I2 = 73%) and PODs 2-3 between remimazolam and propofol. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in QoR dimensions, length of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, and time to extubation as well as in the risks of agitation and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Patients administered remimazolam exhibited slower anesthetic induction (mean difference (MD): 32.27 s) but faster recovery of consciousness (MD: - 1.60 min) than those administered propofol. Moreover, remimazolam was associated with a lower risk of rescue analgesia requirement in the PACU (risk ratio: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.89, P = 0.009, I2 = 0%) but not in the ward.

CONCLUSION

Remimazolam is a potential alternative to propofol for general anesthesia as it offers similar QoR to the latter and has advantages in terms of consciousness recovery and immediate postoperative analgesia requirement.

Comparative study on the impact of remimazolam and sevoflurane on quality of recovery after transurethral resection of bladder tumor: A randomized controlled noninferiority study

BACKGROUND

Remimazolam is manifested by rapid action, hemodynamic stability, and fast recovery. Our study aimed to investigate whether the quality of recovery (QoR) after remimazolam anesthesia in patients undergoing transurethral resection of bladder tumor, which is predominantly performed in the elderly population, is not inferior to that after conventional anesthesia using sevoflurane.

METHODS

Thirty-four patients were randomly allocated into either of group S (n = 17, receiving sevoflurane anesthesia), or group R (n = 17, receiving remimazolam anesthesia). The QoR was assessed by Korean version of QoR-15 questionnaire, on the day before and after the surgery. Scores acquired for each individual item, QoR-15 scores categorized into 5 dimensions (physical comfort, physical independence, psychological support, emotional state, and pain), and overall global score were subjected to comparative analysis. The primary outcome was postoperative global QoR-15, and a noninferiority delta value of 8.0 was employed.

RESULTS

The postoperative global QoR-15 in the group S was 141 (134-146), and in the groups R was 133 (128-142) (P = .152). The mean difference of global QoR-15 (group S-group R) was 1.471 (95% confidence interval of -10.204 to 13.146), and the lower 95% confidence interval margin was lower than the noninferiority margin of -8.0. When comparing the QoR-15 sorted by 5 dimensions, pain scored higher in the group S (20 [18-20]) compared to the group R (15 [15-20], P = .032).

CONCLUSION

The postoperative QoR following transurethral resection of bladder tumor was found to be lower in patients anesthetized with remimazolam in comparison to those anesthetized with sevoflurane.

Influence of Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate Infusion on the Subjective Postoperative Quality of Recovery: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This meta-analysis investigated the effects of intravenous magnesium sulfate on the postoperative recovery quality, as assessed using the Quality of Recovery (QoR) questionnaire, in adult surgical patients. Seven randomized controlled trials involving 622 patients were included. Compared with the placebo, magnesium sulfate significantly improved the global QoR score on postoperative day 1 (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 1.24; 95% confidence interval: 0.70-1.78; p < 0.00001). It also enhanced specific QoR dimensions, with substantial effects on pain (SMD: 1, p < 0.00001) and physical comfort (SMD: 0.85, p < 0.0001), a moderate effect on emotional state (SMD: 0.65, p = 0.002), and small improvements in physical independence (SMD: 0.43, p < 0.00001) and psychological support (SMD: 0.37, p < 0.0001). In addition, magnesium sulfate reduced the intraoperative opioid consumption (SMD: -0.66, p < 0.0001), postoperative pain severity, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (risk ratio: 0.48, p = 0.008). The extubation times were unaffected, whereas the post-anesthesia care unit stay was slightly prolonged. These findings highlight the potential of magnesium sulfate as a valuable adjunct for multimodal analgesia and enhanced recovery. Future studies should aim to elucidate the optimal dosing strategies, timing of administration, and specific surgical populations that may derive maximum benefits.

Effect of Rectus Sheath Block on Postoperative Quality of Recovery After Transabdominal Midline Gynecological Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction

Rectus sheath block is an emerging technique that provide effective perioperative analgesia and is related to lower perioperative opioid consumption and decrease opioid-related adverse effects. The present research is designed to explore the effect of rectus sheath block on recovery quality in patients following transabdominal midline gynecological surgery.

Methods

Ninety female patients following elective transabdominal midline gynecological surgery were enrolled. Patients were randomized to group R (n = 45) which receive preoperative ultrasound-guided RSB with 0.4% ropivacaine or group C which is control group (n = 45). The primary outcome was the quality of recovery on the first postoperative day. The quality of recovery was assessed by the 40-item Quality of Recovery questionnaire (QoR-40). Secondary outcomes included the intraoperative opioid consumption, time to first flatus and time to first discharging from bed, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and patient satisfaction.

Results

The patients in two groups had comparable baseline characteristics. Postoperative global QoR-40 scores were significantly better in group R than in group C (165.0[159.5-170.0] vs 155.0[150.0-157.0], respectively; median difference 12[95% confidence interval: 8-15, P<0.001]). Preoperative RSB reduced intraoperative opioid consumption, reduced the time to first flatus, time to first discharging from bed and the post anaesthesia care unit discharge time. Furthermore, group R showed greater patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

A single preoperative administration of RSB with ropivacaine improved the quality of recovery in patients following transabdominal midline gynecological surgery.

The impact of perioperative ketamine or esketamine on the subjective quality of recovery after surgery: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of ketamine/esketamine on postoperative subjective quality of recovery (QoR).

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the impacts of perioperative ketamine/esketamine use and postoperative QoR. The primary outcome was subjective QoR (QoR-9, QoR-15, QoR-40) on postoperative day (POD) 1-3, whereas the secondary outcomes included pain severity, anxiety scores, depression scores, risk of adverse events (i.e. nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness), and length of stay.

RESULTS

The analysis included 18 RCTs (1554 participants; ketamine: seven trials, esketamine: 11 trials), of which 15 were conducted in China. Ketamine/esketamine improved the QoR scores on PODs 1 and 2 compared with the control (standardised mean difference [SMD]: 0.63, P<0.0001 for POD 1; SMD: 0.56, P=0.04 for POD 2), without beneficial effect on POD 3. Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in QoR scores on POD 1 by regimen (SMD: esketamine 1.14, ketamine 0.01) and country (SMD: China 0.82, other countries -0.21). The emotional domain of QoR was improved from PODs 1 to 3, whereas the other domains were only improved on POD 1. Lower postoperative anxiety (SMD: -0.48, P=0.003) and depression (SMD: -0.72, P=0.001) scores were also observed with ketamine/esketamine use. Furthermore, pain severity was reduced on PODs 1 and 2, with no difference in the risk of adverse events or length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis demonstrated that ketamine/esketamine use in the perioperative period is associated with improved early subjective QoR, pain severity, and psychological symptoms without an increase in the likelihood of adverse events.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW PROTOCOL

PROSPERO (CRD42023477580).

Apoptosis, Proliferation, and Autophagy Are Involved in Local Anesthetic-Induced Cytotoxicity of Human Breast Cancer Cells

Breast cancer accounts for almost one quarter of all female cancers worldwide, and more than 90% of those who are diagnosed with breast cancer undergo mastectomy or breast conservation surgery. Local anesthetics effectively inhibit the invasion of cancer cells at concentrations that are used in surgical procedures. The limited treatment options for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) demonstrate unmet clinical needs. In this study, four local anesthetics, lidocaine, levobupivacaine, bupivacaine, and ropivacaine, were applied to two breast tumor cell types, TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells and triple-positive breast cancer BT-474 cells. In addition to the induction of apoptosis and the suppression of the cellular proliferation rate, the four local anesthetics decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species and increased the autophagy elongation indicator in both cell types. Our combination index analysis with doxorubicin showed that ropivacaine had a synergistic effect on the two cell types, and lidocaine had a synergistic effect only in MDA-MB-231 cells; the others had no synergistic effects on doxorubicin. Lidocaine contributed significantly to the formation of autophagolysosomes in a dose-dependent manner in MDA-MB-231 cells but not in BT-474 cells. Our study demonstrated that the four local anesthetics can reduce tumor growth and proliferation and promote apoptosis and autophagy.