Systematic review of the QoR-15 score, a patient- reported outcome measure measuring quality of recovery after surgery and anaesthesia

Efficacy of intraoperative systemic lidocaine on quality of recovery after laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Many clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of intraoperative systemic lidocaine administration in major abdominal surgeries. We tested the hypothesis that systemic lidocaine is associated with an enhanced early quality of recovery in patients following laparoscopic colorectal resection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We randomly allocated 126 patients scheduled for laparoscopic colorectal surgery in a 1:1 ratio to receive either lidocaine (1.5 mg kg-1 bolus over 10 min, followed by continuous infusion at 2 mg kg-1 h-1 until the end of surgery) or identical volumes and rates of saline. The primary outcome was the Quality of Recovery-15 score assessed 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes were areas under the pain numeric rating scale curve over time, 48-h morphine consumption, and adverse events.

RESULTS

Compared with saline, systemic lidocaine improved the Quality of Recovery-15 score 24 h postoperatively, with a median difference of 4 (95% confidence interval: 1-6; p = 0.015). Similarly, the area under the pain numeric rating scale curve over 48 h at rest and on movement was reduced in the lidocaine group (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, these differences were not clinically meaningful. Lidocaine infusion reduced the intraoperative remifentanil requirements but not postoperative 48-h morphine consumption (p < 0.001 and p = 0.34, respectively). Additionally, patients receiving lidocaine had a quicker and earlier return of bowel function, as indicated by a shorter time to first flatus (log-rank p < 0.001), yet ambulation time was similar between groups (log-rank test, p = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery, intraoperative systemic lidocaine resulted in statistically but not clinically significant improvements in quality of recovery (see Graphical Abstract).Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; ChiCTR1900027635.

Preoperative Bilateral External Oblique Intercostal Plus Rectus Sheath Block for Postoperative Pain Management Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Noninferior Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has proven efficacy and is an important component of multimodal analgesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The external oblique intercostal (EOI) block can provide a dermatomal sensory blockade of T6 to T10 using an anterior axillary line injection. The bilateral rectus sheath (RS) block can significantly reduce early postoperative pain caused by umbilical or periumbilical incisions. The current study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacies of ultrasound-guided subcostal TAP (UG-TAP) combined with the RS block and ultrasound-guided EOI (UG-EOI) combined with the RS block for LC.

METHODS

Patients were randomly assigned to TAP or EOI group. Patients in TAP group received UG-TAP combined with an RS block. Patients in EOI group received UG-EOI combined with an RS block. The primary outcome was postoperative 24-hour sufentanil consumption.

RESULTS

A total of 49 patients were included in the final analysis. The postoperative 24-hour sufentanil consumption in the EOI group was significantly lower than that in the TAP group (9.79±10.22 vs. 18.67±12.58 µg; P [noninferiority] <0.01; noninferiority confirmed). Fewer patients in the EOI versus TAP group had a numerical rating score of >3 during motion. Furthermore, the mean postoperative 48-hour sufentanil consumption was lower in the EOI versus TAP group (11.54±11.70 vs. 23.04±17.10 µg; P =0.01). The mean postoperative 24-hour Quality of Recovery-15 score was higher in the EOI versus TAP group (135.21±4.40 vs. 131.91±5.11; P =0.02).

DISCUSSION

These findings suggest that UG-EOI combined with an RS block was superior to UG-TAP combined with an RS block for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing LC.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Topical Analgesia Posthemorrhoidectomy (TAPH Trial)

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pain remains the greatest problem after hemorrhoidectomy. Pain is hypothesized to arise from bacterial infection, sphincter spasm, and local inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

This trial was conducted to assess the effects of metronidazole, diltiazem, and lidocaine on posthemorrhoidectomy pain.

DESIGN

A double-blinded randomized controlled factorial trial.

SETTINGS

This multicenter trial was conducted in Auckland, New Zealand.

PATIENTS

A total of 192 participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) into 4 parallel arms.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were randomly assigned into 1 of 4 groups receiving topical treatment with 10% metronidazole, 10% metronidazole + 2% diltiazem, 10% metronidazole + 4% lidocaine, or 10% metronidazole + 2% diltiazem + 4% lidocaine. Participants were instructed to apply treatment to the anal verge 3 times daily for 7 days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was pain on the visual analog scale on day 4. The secondary outcomes included analgesia usage, pain during bowel movement, and functional recovery index.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the pain and recovery scores when diltiazem or lidocaine was added to metronidazole (score difference between presence and absence of diltiazem in the formulation: -3.69; 95% CI, -13.3 to 5.94; p = 0.46; between presence and absence of lidocaine: -5.67; 95% CI, -15.5 to 3.80; p = 0.24). The combination of metronidazole + diltiazem + lidocaine did not further reduce pain. Secondary analysis revealed a significant difference between the best (metronidazole + lidocaine) and worst (metronidazole + diltiazem + lidocaine) groups in both pain and functional recovery scores. There were no significant differences in analgesic usage, complications, or return to work between the groups. No clinically important adverse events were reported. The adverse event rate did not change in the intervention groups.

LIMITATIONS

Topical metronidazole was used in the control group rather than a pure placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference in pain when topical diltiazem, lidocaine, or both were added to topical metronidazole. See Video Abstract .

CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER

NCT04276298.

ENSAYO CONTROLADO ALEATORIZADO DE ANALGESIA TPICA POSTERIOR A HEMORROIDECTOMA ENSAYO TAPH

ANTECEDENTES:El dolor postoperatorio sigue siendo el mayor problema tras hemorroidectomía. La hipótesis es que el dolor se debe a infección bacteriana, el espasmo esfínteriano e inflamación local.OBJETIVO:Se realizó un ensayo factorial aleatorizado y controlado para evaluar los efectos del metronidazol, el diltiazem y la lidocaína en el dolor posthemorroidectomía.DISEÑO:Ensayo factorial controlado aleatorizado doble ciego.ESCENARIO:Se realizó un ensayo multicéntrico en Auckland, Nueva Zelanda.PACIENTES:Se aleatorizó a 192 participantes (1:1:1:1) en cuatro brazos paralelos.INTERVENCIONES:Los participantes se asignaron aleatoriamente a uno de los cuatro grupos que recibieron tratamiento tópico con metronidazol al 10% (M), metronidazol al 10% + diltiazem al 2% (MD), metronidazol al 10% + lidocaína al 4% (ML), o metronidazol al 10% + diltiazem al 2% + lidocaína al 4% (MDL). Se indicó a los participantes que lo aplicaran en el margen anal 3 veces al día durante 7 días.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:El resultado primario fue el dolor en la escala analógica visual en el día 4. Los resultados secundarios incluyeron el uso de analgesia, el dolor al defecar y el índice de recuperación funcional.RESULTADOS:No hubo diferencias significativas en las puntuaciones de dolor y recuperación cuando se añadió diltiazem o lidocaína al metronidazol (diferencia de puntuación entre la presencia y la ausencia de D en la formulación: -3.69; IC del 95%: -13.3; 5.94; p = 0.46; entre la presencia y la ausencia de L: -5.67; IC del 95%: -15.5; 3.80; p = 0.24). La combinación de MDL no redujo más el dolor. El análisis secundario reveló una diferencia significativa entre los grupos mejor (ML) y peor (MDL) tanto en las puntuaciones de dolor como en las de recuperación funcional. No hubo diferencias significativas en el uso de analgésicos, las complicaciones o la reincorporación al trabajo entre los grupos. No se notificaron eventos adversos clínicamente importantes. La tasa de eventosadversos no cambió en los grupos de intervención.LIMITACIONES:Se utilizó metronidazol tópico en el grupo de control, en lugar de un placebo puro.CONCLUSIONES:No hubo diferencias significativas en el dolor cuando se añadió diltiazem tópico o lidocaína, o ambos, al metronidazol tópico. ( Traducción-Dr. Jorge Silva Velazco )Identificador de registro del ensayo clínico:NCT04276298.

Relative effects of serratus anterior plane block performed with dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine or ropivacaine alone on quality of recovery in children undergoing ear reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Dexmedetomidine (Dex) as a local anesthesia adjuvant for nerve block procedures can improve the quality of patient recovery. However, the impact of using Dex as a local anesthetic adjuvant for serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) procedures on recovery quality for children undergoing ear reconstruction remains unclear.

METHODS

Eighty-four patients who underwent ear reconstruction with autogenous costal cartilage (ACC) were randomized into two groups (n = 42/group) in which SAPB was performed with ropivacaine alone (R group) and with Dex and ropivacaine (DR group). Primary outcomes were patient 15-item quality of recovery (QoR-15) scale scores on days 1 and 2 post-surgery. Secondary outcomes included postoperative rest and coughing numerical rating scale (NRS) chest pain scores, duration of analgesia, oral rescue analgesic usage, and opioid-related side effects.

RESULTS

Forty patients per group completed the study. QoR-15 scores on days 1 and 2 post-surgery in the DR group were significantly increased relative to the R group (126.35 ± 9.81 vs. 115.53 ± 8.58 and 131.78 ± 8.67 vs. 122.80 ± 8.59, all P < 0.001). Rest and coughing NRS chest pain scores at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h postoperatively in the DR group were all significantly lower relative to the R group (all P < 0.05). The DR group also exhibited significantly longer analgesic duration (P < 0.001) and significantly reduced incidences of oral rescue analgesic usage and opioid-related side effect (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Combining Dex and ropivacaine for SAPB in children undergoing ear reconstruction with ACC can significantly improve the quality of recovery, quality of analgesia, and analgesic duration.

Evaluation of neuraxial analgesia on outcomes for patients undergoing robot assisted abdominal surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Following robot assisted abdominal surgery, the pain can be moderate in severity. Neuraxial analgesia may decrease the activity of the detrusor muscle, reduce the incidence of bladder spasm and provide effective somatic and visceral analgesia. In this systematic review, we assessed the role of neuraxial analgesia in robot assisted abdominal surgery.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

SETTINGS

Robot assisted abdominal surgery.

PATIENTS

Adults.

INTERVENTIONS

Subsequent to a search of the electronic databases, observational studies and randomized controlled trials that assessed the effect of neuraxial analgesia instituted at induction of anesthesia or intraoperatively in adult and robot assisted abdominal surgery were considered for inclusion. The outcomes of observational studies as well as randomized controlled trials which were not subjected to meta-analysis were presented in descriptive terms. Meta-analysis was conducted if an outcome of interest was reported by two or more randomized controlled trials.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 19 and 11 studies that investigated spinal and epidural analgesia in adults, respectively. The coprimary outcomes were the pain score at rest at 24 h and the cumulative intravenous morphine consumption at 24 h. Spinal analgesia with long acting neuraxial opioid did not decrease the pain score at rest at 24 h although it reduced the cumulative intravenous morphine consumption at 24 h by a mean difference (95%CI) of 14.88 mg (-22.13--7.63; p < 0.0001, I2 = 50%) with a low and moderate quality of evidence, respectively, on meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Spinal analgesia with long acting neuraxial opioid had a beneficial effect on analgesic indices till the second postoperative day and a positive influence on opioid consumption up to and including the 72 h time point. The majority of studies demonstrated the use of spinal analgesia with long acting neuraxial opioid to lead to no difference in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and the occurrence of pruritus was found to be increased with spinal analgesia with long acting neuraxial opioid in recovery but not at later time points. No difference was revealed in the incidence of urinary retention. The evidence in regard to the quality of recovery-15 score at 24 h and hospital length of stay was not fully consistent, although most studies indicated no difference between spinal analgesia and control for these outcomes. Epidural analgesia in robot assisted abdominal surgery was shown to decrease the pain on movement at 12 h but it had not been studied with respect to its influence on the pain score at rest at 24 h or the cumulative intravenous morphine consumption at 24 h. It did not reduce the pain on movement at later time points and the evidence related to the hospital length of stay was inconsistent.

CONCLUSIONS

Spinal analgesia with long acting neuraxial opioid had a favourable effect on analgesic indices and opioid consumption, and is recommended by the authors, but the evidence for spinal analgesia with short acting neuraxial opioid and epidural analgesia was limited.

Postoperative Complications and Mobilization Following Major Abdominal Surgery With Versus Without Fitness Tracker-based Feedback (EXPELLIARMUS): A Student-led Multicenter Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of the CHIR-Net SIGMA Study Group

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether daily postoperative step goals and feedback through a fitness tracker (FT) reduce the rate of postoperative complications after surgery.

BACKGROUND

Early and enhanced postoperative mobilization has been advocated to reduce postoperative complications, but it is unknown whether FT alone can reduce morbidity.

METHODS

EXPELLIARMUS was performed at 11 University Hospitals across Germany by the student-led clinical trial network SIGMA. Patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were enrolled, equipped with an FT, and randomly assigned to the experimental (visible screen) or control intervention (blackened screen). The experimental group received daily step goals and feedback through the FT. The primary end point was postoperative morbidity within 30 days using the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). All trial visits were performed by medical students in the hospital with the opportunity to consult a surgeon-facilitator who also obtained informed consent. After discharge, medical students performed the 30-day postoperative visit through telephone and electronic questionnaires.

RESULTS

A total of 347 patients were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. The mean age of patients was 58 years, and 71% underwent surgery for malignant disease, with the most frequent indications being pancreatic, colorectal, and hepatobiliary malignancies. Roughly one-third of patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. No imputation for the primary end point was necessary as data completeness was 100%. There was no significant difference in the CCI between the 2 groups in the intention-to-treat analysis (mean±SD CCI experimental group: 23±24 vs. control: 22±22; 95% CI: -6.1, 3.7; P=0.628). All secondary outcomes, including quality of recovery, 6-minute walking test, length of hospital stay, and step count until postoperative day 7 were comparable between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily step goals combined with FT-based feedback had no effect on postoperative morbidity. The EXPELLIARMUS shows that medical students can successfully conduct randomized controlled trials in surgery.

Comparison of the Effects of Adductor Canal and Femoral Nerve Blocks on Postoperative Opioid Consumption and Inflammatory Factor Levels in Elderly Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Observational Study

Purpose

Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a highly invasive procedure causing severe postoperative pain, which hampers early mobility. Effective pain management is crucial for optimal recovery. This study aimed to evaluate how adductor canal block (ACB) and femoral nerve block (FNB) affect opioid use and inflammation factor levels in elderly TKA patients.

Methods

This prospective observational study included 120 patients who received TKA, and divided them into three groups, based on the different nerve block technique: ACB, FNB, and no intervention before general anesthesia (CON). Postoperative opioid consumption, pain assessment, inflammation factor, knee function recovery and other clinical indicators were recorded.

Results

The CON group had significantly higher cumulative sufentanil consumption compared to the ACB and FNB groups at both 12 h and 48h postoperative (P<0.001). Compared with the CON group, the ACB and FNB groups persistently had lower pain scores until 12 h at rest and 24 h during motion after surgery. The ACB group showed significantly lower serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared to the CON group at 24 h postoperative (P=0.017, P=0.009), and IL-6 levels remained significantly lower at 72 h postoperative (P=0.005). Both ACB and FNB groups achieved earlier ambulation compared to the CON group (P=0.002). On the first day postoperative, both the ACB and FNB groups showed significantly better knee motion (P<0.001), quadriceps strength (P<0.001), and daily mobilization (P<0.001) compared to the CON group. Additionally, the ACB group exhibited superior quadriceps strength (P<0.001) and daily mobilization (P<0.001) compared to the FNB group.

Conclusion

The ACB and FNB groups exhibited comparable clinical efficacy outcomes in terms of pain scores and opioid consumption. However, the ACB group experienced reduced postoperative inflammation and improved knee recovery, especially in quadriceps strength.

Effects of ciprofol infusion on hemodynamics during induction and maintenance of anesthesia and on postoperative recovery in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy: Study protocol for a randomized, controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Ciprofol, a new candidate drug, is effective and safe for the maintenance of anesthesia in non-cardiothoracic and non-neurological elective surgery. However, few studies have been conducted on general anesthesia using ciprofol in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy. Therefore, this study aims to observe the effects of ciprofol on hemodynamics and on postoperative recovery in patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This randomized controlled trial will include 136 patients aged 18-65 years undergoing elective thoracoscopic lobectomy between April 2023 and December 2024. The participants will be randomly assigned to the propofol or ciprofol group. The primary outcome to be assessed is the hemodynamic fluctuation during the induction and maintenance of anesthesia. The secondary outcomes involve quality of anesthesia induction and quality of recovery from anesthesia. The former includes TLOC (time to loss of consciousness), the use of vasoactive agents, the incidence of injection pain, body movement, muscle twitching and coughing during induction of anesthesia. The latter includes TROC (time to recovery of consciousness), post anesthesia care unit (PACU) time, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postoperative agitation, intraoperative awareness and quality of recovery (QoR) score.

DISCUSSION

A number of clinical trials have confirmed that ciprofol, as a new sedative-hypnotic agent, has advantages of better tolerance, higher sedation satisfaction score, and lower incidence of adverse reactions, especially in reducing the incidence of injection pain. But considering that ciprofol was recently developed, limited data are available regarding its use for general anesthesia. This study aims to investigate the effects of ciprofol on hemodynamics and on postoperative recovery of patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy. The results of this study may provide evidence for the safe application of ciprofol, a new choice of general anesthetic for thoracic surgery.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05664386).

Impact of non-emergency surgical timing on postoperative recovery quality in mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected patients: a grouped cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between the timing of non-emergency surgery in mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infected individuals and the quality of postoperative recovery from the time of confirmed infection to the day of surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 300 cases of mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected patients undergoing elective general anaesthesia surgery at Yijishan Hospital between January 9, 2023, and February 17, 2023. Based on the time from confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection to the day of surgery, patients were divided into four groups: ≤2 weeks (Group A), 2-4 weeks (Group B), 4-6 weeks (Group C), and 6-8 weeks (Group D). The primary outcome measures included the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) scale scores at 3 days, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative mortality, ICU admission, pulmonary complications, postoperative length of hospital stay, extubation time, and time to leave the PACU.

RESULTS

Concerning the primary outcome measures, the QoR-15 scores at 3 days postoperatively in Group A were significantly lower compared to the other three groups (P < 0.05), while there were no statistically significant differences among the other three groups (P > 0.05). The QoR-15 scores at 3 and 6 months postoperatively showed no statistically significant differences among the four groups (P > 0.05). In terms of secondary outcome measures, Group A had a significantly prolonged hospital stay compared to the other three groups (P < 0.05), while other outcome measures showed no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The timing of surgery in mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected patients does not affect long-term recovery quality but does impact short-term recovery quality, especially for elective general anaesthesia surgeries within 2 weeks of confirmed infection. Therefore, it is recommended to wait for a surgical timing of at least greater than 2 weeks to improve short-term recovery quality and enhance patient prognosis.

The impact of combined administration of ropivacaine and dexamethasone on postoperative analgesia in perianal surgery with pudendal nerve block under ultrasound guidance: a prospective randomized controlled study

Background

In recent years, severe pain after perianal surgery has seriously affected the prognosis of hospitalized patients. How to maximize the improvement of postoperative pain and perioperative comfort becomes particularly important.

Methods

This study was a double-blind randomized controlled trial (Registration No.: ChiCTR2100048760, Registration Date: 16 July 2021, Link: www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=130226), and patients were randomly divided into two groups: one group underwent postoperative 20 mL bilateral pudendal nerve block with 0.5% ropivacaine (P group), and the other group underwent postoperative 20 mL bilateral pudendal nerve block with 0.5% ropivacaine + 8 mg dexamethasone (PD group). The primary outcome was the incidence of moderate to severe pain at the first postoperative dressing change. Secondary outcomes included Quality of recovery-15 (QoR-15) score at 3 days after surgery, sleep quality, pain score at 3 days after surgery, and incidence of adverse events.

Results

In the main outcome indicators, the incidence was 41.7% in the P group and 24.2% in the PD group (p = 0.01). The QoR-15 score and sleep quality in PD group were better than those in P group 2 days before surgery. The incidence of postoperative urinary retention was significantly decreased in PD group (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Local anesthesia with dexamethasone combined with pudendal nerve block after perianal surgery can reduce the incidence of moderate to severe pain during the first dressing change. This may be one of the approaches to multimodal analgesia after perianal surgery.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2100048760.

ERAS for Ambulatory TURBT: Enhancing Bladder Cancer Care (EMBRACE) randomised controlled trial protocol

INTRODUCTION

Transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) is one of the more common procedures performed by urologists. It is often described as an 'incision-free' and 'well-tolerated' operation. However, many patients experience distress and discomfort with the procedure. Substantial opportunity exists to improve the TURBT experience. An enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol designed by patients with bladder cancer and their providers has been developed.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a single-centre, randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of an ERAS protocol compared with usual care in patients with bladder cancer undergoing ambulatory TURBT. The ERAS protocol is composed of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative components designed to optimise each phase of perioperative care. 100 patients with suspected or known bladder cancer aged ≥18 years undergoing initial or repeat ambulatory TURBT will be enrolled. The change in Quality of Recovery 15 score, a measure of the quality of recovery, between the day of surgery and postoperative day 1 will be compared between the ERAS and control groups.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The trial has been approved by the Johns Hopkins Institutional Review Board #00392063. Participants will provide informed consent to participate before taking part in the study. Results will be reported in a separate publication.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05905276.

Evaluation of the Erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: a randomized placebo controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) reduces postoperative pain after several types of abdominal laparoscopic surgeries. There is sparse data on the effect of ESPB in laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. The purpose of this study was to test the postoperative analgesic efficacy of an ESPB for this procedure.

METHODS

In this prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study, adult patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair were randomly assigned to either bilateral preoperative ESPB with catheters at the level of Th7 (2 × 30 ml of either 2.5 mg/ml ropivacaine or saline), with postoperative catheter top ups every 6 h for 24 h. The primary outcome was rescue opioid consumption during the first hour postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were total opioid consumption at 4 h and 24 h, pain scores, nausea, sedation, as well as Quality of Recovery 15 (QoR-15) and the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) during the first week.

RESULTS

In total, 64 patients were included in the primary outcome measure. There was no significant difference in rescue opioid consumption (oral morphine equivalents (OME)) at one hour postoperatively, with the ESPB group 26.9 ± 17.1 mg versus 32.4 ± 24.3 mg (mean ± SD) in the placebo group (p= 0.27). There were no significant differences concerning the secondary outcomes during the seven-day observation period. Seven patients received a rescue block postoperatively, providing analgesia in five patients.

CONCLUSION

We found no difference in measured outcomes between ESPB and placebo in laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Future studies may evaluate whether a block performed using higher concentration and/or at a different thoracic level provides more analgesic efficacy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04438369 ; 18/06/2020. .

Erector spinae plane block versus paravertebral block on postoperative quality of recovery in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose

To compare the impact of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and paravertebral block (PVB) on the quality of postoperative recovery (QoR) of patients following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Methods

A total of 110 patients who underwent elective LSG under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive either ultrasound-guided bilateral ESPB or PVB at T8 levels. Before anesthesia induction, 40 mL of 0.33% ropivacaine was administered. The primary outcome was the QoR-15 score at 24 hours postoperatively.

Results

At 24 hours postoperatively, the QoR-15 score was comparable between the ESPB and PVB groups (131 (112-140) vs. 124 (111-142.5), P = 0.525). Consistently, there was no significant difference in QoR-15 scores at 48 hours postoperatively, numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores at any postoperative time points, time to first ambulation, time to first anal exhaust, postoperative cumulative oxycodone consumption, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) between the two groups (all P > 0.05). No nerve block-related complications were observed in either group.

Conclusion

In patients undergoing LSG, preoperative bilateral ultrasound-guided ESPB yields comparable postoperative recovery to preoperative bilateral ultrasound-guided PVB.

Evaluation of Quality of Recovery With Quality of Recovery-15 Score After Closed-Loop Anesthesia Delivery System-Guided Propofol Versus Desflurane General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Transabdominal Robotic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

Robotic technique of surgery allows surgeons to perform complex procedures in difficult-to-access areas of the abdominal/pelvic cavity (eg, radical prostatectomy and radical hysterectomy) with improved access and precision approach. At the same time, automated techniques efficiently deliver propofol total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with lower anesthetic consumption. As both above are likely to bring benefit to the patients, it is imperative to explore their effect on postanesthesia recovery. Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) is a comprehensive patient-reported measure of the quality of postanesthesia recovery and assesses compendious patients' experiences (physical and mental well-being). This randomized study assessed the effect of automated propofol TIVA versus inhaled desflurane anesthesia on postoperative quality of recovery using the QoR-15 questionnaire in patients undergoing elective robotic surgery.

METHODS

One hundred twenty patients undergoing robotic abdominal surgery under general anesthesia (GA) were randomly allocated to receive propofol TIVA administered by closed-loop anesthesia delivery system (CLADS) (CLADS group) or desflurane GA (desflurane group). Postoperative QoR-15 score on postoperative day 1 (POD-1) and postoperative day 2 (POD-2) (primary outcome variables), individual QoR-15 item scores (15 nos.), intraoperative hemodynamics (heart rate, mean blood pressure), anesthesia depth consistency, anesthesia delivery system performance, early recovery from anesthesia (time-to-eye-opening, and time to tracheal extubation), and postoperative adverse events (sedation, postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV], pain, intraoperative awareness recall) (secondary outcome variables) were analyzed.

RESULTS

On POD-1, the CLADS group scored significantly higher than the desflurane group in terms of "overall" QoR-15 score (QoR-15 score: 114.5 ± 13 vs 102.1 ± 20.4; P = .001) and 3 individual QoR-15 "items" scores ("feeling rested" 7.5 ± 1.9 vs 6.4 ± 2.2, P = .007; "good sleep" 7.8 ± 1.9 vs 6.6 ± 2.7, P = .027; and "feeling comfortable and in control" 8.1 ± 1.7 vs 6.9 ± 2.4, P = .006). On the POD-2, the CLADS group significantly outscored the desflurane group with respect to the "overall" QoR-15 score (126.0 ± 13.6 vs 116.3 ± 20.3; P = .011) and on "5" individual QoR-15 items ("feeling rested" 8.1 ± 1.4 vs 7.0 ± 2.0, P = .003; "able to return to work or usual home activities" 6.0 ± 2.2 vs 4.6 ± 2.6, P = .008; "feeling comfortable and in control" 8.6 ± 1.2 vs 7.7 ± 1.9, P = .004; "feeling of general well-being" 7.8 ± 1.6 vs 6.9 ± 2.0, P = .042; and "severe pain" 9.0 ± 1.9 vs 8.1 ± 2.5, P = .042).

CONCLUSIONS

Automated propofol TIVA administered by CLADS is superior to desflurane inhalation GA with respect to early postoperative recovery as comprehensively assessed on the QoR-15 scoring system. The effect of combined automated precision anesthesia and surgery (robotics) techniques on postoperative recovery may be explored further.

The Effect of Depth of Anesthesia on Postoperative Pain in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Patients with obesity are more sensitive to pain and more likely to have acute postoperative pain (APP). Studies have shown that the depth of anesthesia may affect the incidence of APP. The purpose of the study was to look into the connection between APP and depth of anesthesia in patients with obesity undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

METHODS

This is a prospective, double-blinded randomized clinical trial, 90 patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were randomly divided into two groups: the light anesthesia group (Bispectral Index of 50, BIS 50) and the deep anesthesia group (BIS 35). The degree of pain was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) at 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. The use of analgesics, grade of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score were recorded.

RESULTS

The VAS scores at rest or coughing at 0, 12, and 24 h after surgery in the BIS 35 group were lower than those in the BIS 50 group (P < 0.05). Fewer patients in the deep anesthesia group needed analgesia during the recovery period, and patient satisfaction was higher on the 3rd day after surgery (P < 0.015, P < 0.032, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with obesity, maintaining a deeper depth of anesthesia during surgery is beneficial to reduce APP causes less need for additional analgesic drugs, and improves patient satisfaction.

Validation of the postoperative Quality of Recovery-15 questionnaire after emergency surgery and association with quality of life at three months

PURPOSE

The Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) tool, validated for measuring postoperative recovery following scheduled surgeries, has not been psychometrically assessed in emergency contexts. Moreover, the QoR-15's associations with long-term outcomes remain underexplored. This study aimed to confirm the validity and reliability of the QoR-15 following emergency surgery and assess its association with three-month postoperative quality of life.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study (August 2021-April 2022) on adult patients who underwent emergency surgery. The QoR-15 questionnaire was administered before surgery (H0) and at 24 hr (H24) and 48 hr (H48) after surgery. We examined the H24 score's associations with both the three-month quality of life, as assessed by the EQ-5D scale, and the number of days spent at home at 30 (DAH30) and 90 (DAH90) days.

RESULTS

Of the 375 included patients, 352 (94%) completed the QoR-15 at H24 and 338 (90%) were followed up at three months. The population represented the following diverse surgical specialties: orthopedic (51%), gastrointestinal (27%), urologic (13%), and others (9%). The QoR-15 questionnaire confirmed all psychometric qualities (internal consistency, reproducibility, responsiveness, acceptability, construct, and convergent validities) in the emergency context. The average minimum clinical difference was 8.0 at H24. There was an association between QoR-15 at H24 and the three-month quality of life (r = 0.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14 to 0.34; P < 0.001), DAH30 (r = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.41; P < 0.001), and DAH90 (r = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.40; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The QoR-15 score is valid for measuring early postoperative recovery after emergency surgery. The H24 score significantly correlated with both the three-month quality of life and the number of days at home.

STUDY REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04845763); first submitted 11 April 2021.

Erector spinae plane block did not improve postoperative pain-related outcomes and recovery after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery : a randomised controlled double-blinded multi-center trial

INTRODUCTION

There is a sizable niche for a minimally invasive analgesic technique that could facilitate ambulatory video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Our study aimed to determine the analgesic potential of a single-shot erector spinae plane (ESP) block for VATS. The primary objective was the total hydromorphone consumption with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) 24 h after surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized, controlled, double-blind study with patients scheduled for VATS in two major university-affiliated hospital centres. We randomized 52 patients into two groups: a single-shot ESP block using bupivacaine or an ESP block with normal saline (control). We administered a preoperative and postoperative (24 h) quality of recovery (QoR-15) questionnaire and assessed postoperative pain using a verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) score. We evaluated the total standardized intraoperative fentanyl administration, total postoperative hydromorphone consumption (PCA; primary endpoint), and the incidence of adverse effects.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the primary objective, hydromorphone consumption at 24 h (7.6 (4.4) mg for the Bupivacaine group versus 8.1 (4.2) mg for the Control group). Secondary objectives and incidence of adverse events were not different between the two groups at any time during the first 24 h following surgery.

CONCLUSION

Our multi-centre randomized, controlled, double-blinded study found no advantage of an ESP block over placebo for VATS for opioid consumption, pain, or QoR-15 scores. Further studies are ongoing to establish the benefits of using a denser block (single-shot paravertebral with a continuous ESP block), which may provide a better quality of analgesia.

The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the quality of recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire

Quality of recovery (QoR) is a significant component of peri-operative health status and is influenced by patients' characteristics and surgical and anesthetic methods. The QoR-15 scale is a patient-reported outcome questionnaire that measures postoperative QoR. The validity of the QoR-15 scale has been proven in many languages. In this study, we aimed to translate the QoR-15 questionnaire into Turkish and evaluate its validity in the Turkish population. After being translated into Turkish, the questionnaire was administered to 190 patients who underwent obstetric, gynecological, orthopedic, or thoracic surgery under general or regional anesthesia. The Turkish version of QoR-15 (QoR-15T) was administered 2 times: before surgery and 24 hour after surgery. The feasibility, reliability, validity and responsiveness of the QoR-15T were evaluated. Because 13 patients were discharged within 24 hour postoperatively, the study was completed with 177 patients. The recruitment and completion rates of questionnaire were 95% and 93.1% respectively. The completing time of the questionnaire was 2.5 minutes preoperatively and 3.5 minutes postoperatively. The scale yielded a Cronbach α value of 0.75, a Cohen effect size of 1.42, and a standardized response mean of 1.39. There was a significant positive correlation (95% confidence interval; R = 0.68, P < .001) between QoR-15T and visual analog scale postoperatively. The correlation of the items with the total QoR-15T score ranged from 0.19 to 0.60. The total scores of preoperative and postoperative QoR-15T were mean: 130.67, standard deviation: 15.78 and mean: 108.23, standard deviation: 13.06, respectively, with a significant difference between them (P < .01). The QoR-15T is feasible, reliable, valid, and responsive among patients undergoing surgery under general and regional anesthesia.

Quality of Postoperative Recovery in Total Intravenous Anesthesia between Remimazolam and Propofol for Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring: A Prospective Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

This study compared the overall postoperative recovery of patients who underwent total intravenous anesthesia with remimazolam or propofol, using the Quality of Recovery-15 questionnaire (QoR-15). Seventy-two patients who underwent spine surgery with intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) were randomly categorized into the remimazolam group (group R) or propofol group (group P). On the first postoperative day, the QoR-15 scores for groups P and R were 114 and 112, respectively, indicating no significant difference (p = 0.691). Similarly, group-time interaction effects on QoR-15 scores were not significantly different. In the post-anesthesia care unit, the pain intensity at rest was notably higher in group P than in group R (3.0 [0.0] vs. 2.8 [0.5], respectively, p = 0.009). Although the intraoperative consumption of remifentanil was higher in group R (1452.4 µg vs. 2066.8 µg, respectively, p < 0.001), the intraoperative use of vasopressors was lower in group R (1705.6 µg vs. 286.1 µg, respectively, p < 0.001) compared to group P. Group R exhibited significantly lower variability in mean blood pressure over time compared to group P. Remimazolam was viewed as a promising intravenous agent for general anesthesia, showing potential to replace propofol in spine surgery with IONM, considering both recovery quality and intraoperative hemodynamic stability.

Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on postoperative sleep disturbance in older patients undergoing lower limb major arthroplasty: a prospective, double-blind, pilot, randomised controlled trial

Background

Postoperative sleep disturbance (PSD) is a common and serious postoperative complication and is associated with poor postoperative outcomes.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on PSD in older patients undergoing lower limb major arthroplasty.

Methods

In this prospective, double-blind, pilot, randomised, sham-controlled trial, patients 65 years and over undergoing lower limb major arthroplasty were randomly assigned to receive active tDCS (a-tDCS) or sham tDCS (s-tDCS). The primary outcomes were the objective sleep measures on postoperative nights (N) 1 and N2.

Results

116 inpatients were assessed for eligibility, and a total of 92 patients were enrolled; 47 received a-tDCS and 45 received s-tDCS. tDCS improved PSD by altering the following sleep measures in the a-tDCS and s-tDCS groups; the respective comparisons were as follows: the promotion of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time on N1 (64.5 (33.5-105.5) vs 19.0 (0.0, 45.0) min, F=20.10, p<0.001) and N2 (75.0 (36.0-120.8) vs 30.0 (1.3-59.3) min, F=12.55, p<0.001); the total sleep time on N1 (506.0 (408.0-561.0) vs 392.0 (243.0-483.5) min, F=14.13, p<0.001) and N2 (488.5 (455.5-548.5) vs 346.0 (286.5-517.5) min, F=7.36, p=0.007); the deep sleep time on N1 (130.0 (103.3-177.0) vs 42.5 (9.8-100.8) min, F=24.4, p<0.001) and N2 (103.5 (46.0-154.8) vs 57.5 (23.3-106.5) min, F=8.4, p=0.004); and the percentages of light sleep and REM sleep on N1 and N2 (p<0.05 for each). The postoperative depression and anxiety scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. No significant adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

In older patients undergoing lower limb major arthroplasty, a single session of anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex showed a potentially prophylactic effect in improving postoperative short-term objective sleep measures. However, this benefit was temporary and was not maintained over time.

Effect of Intraoperative infusion Magnesium Sulfate Infusion on Postoperative Quality of Recovery in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Magnesium sulfate, an intravenous adjuvant, has recently attracted immense attention in multimodal analgesia. Previous studies confirmed the crucial role of magnesium sulfate in postoperative pain and nociceptive hypersensitivity. However, the effect of magnesium sulfate in multimodal analgesia on the quality of recovery (QoR) for elderly patients has not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the present experiment aimed to investigate the effect of continuous intravenous magnesium sulfate on the quality of postoperative recovery in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Patients and Methods

In this study, a total of 148 patients scheduled to undergo unilateral total knee arthroplasty were randomized into a magnesium sulfate group (Group M, n=68) and a control group (Group C, n=66) using a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Before induction of anesthesia, Group M received intravenous magnesium sulfate (40 mg/kg) for 15 min, followed by a continuous infusion (15 mg/kg) until the end of the procedure. In the same manner, Group C received an infusion of the same amount of isotonic saline using the same method as the Group M.

Results

Compared with Group C, Group M had significantly better QoR-15 scores on postoperative day 1(POD1) than Group C (P <0.05). Analysis of the dimensions of QoR-15 scores indicated that Group M exhibited notably reduced levels of pain, and higher levels of emotional state and physical comfort than Group C (P <0.05). Furthermore, Group C had significantly higher numerical rating scale (NRS) scores at POD1 than Group M (P <0.05).

Conclusion

For elderly patients undergoing knee arthroplasty, magnesium sulfate can be used as an adjuvant in a multimodal analgesic regimen to reduce early postoperative pain and improve the quality of early postoperative recovery.

A randomised controlled trial comparing quality of recovery between desflurane and isoflurane inhalation anaesthesia in patients undergoing ophthalmological surgery at a tertiary hospital in South Africa (DIQoR trial)

Background

The patient's experience of their postoperative recovery is an important perioperative outcome, with the 15-item quality of recovery scale (QoR-15) recommended as a standardised outcomes measure. Desflurane has a faster emergence from anaesthesia compared with other volatile anaesthetics, but it is uncertain whether this translates to better subjective quality of recovery. The hypothesis for this study is that patients receiving desflurane for maintenance of anaesthesia would have better postoperative quality of recovery than patients receiving isoflurane.

Methods

Male and female adult patients undergoing ophthalmological surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated to receive desflurane or isoflurane for maintenance of anaesthesia. The primary outcome was to compare postoperative QoR-15 scores. Secondary outcomes included comparing preoperative QoR-15 scores, volatile agent consumption, and time spent in the recovery room.

Results

Data from 164 patients were analysed (80 desflurane, 84 isoflurane). Median (Q1, Q3) postoperative QoR-15 scores were not significantly different (desflurane: 145 [141, 148], isoflurane: 144 [139, 147], 95% confidence interval 0-3, P=0.176, minimal clinically important difference=8). Median (Q1, Q3) volatile agent consumption was 15.4 (12.5, 19.3) ml hr-1 in the desflurane group, and 7.4 (5.9, 9.7) ml hr-1 in the isoflurane group. Median (Q1, Q3) time spent in the recovery room was significantly shorter in the desflurane group (desflurane: 18 [13, 23]; isoflurane: 25 [19, 32], 95% confidence interval -10 to 5, P<0.001).

Conclusions

This study found no difference in quality of recovery between patients who received desflurane or isoflurane for maintenance of general anaesthesia during ophthalmological surgery. A shorter time in the recovery room was not associated with improved QoR-15 scores.

Clinical trial registration

NCT04188314.

Non-pharmacological interventions to improve sleep quality and quantity for hospitalized adult patients-co-produced study with surgical patient partners: systematic review

BACKGROUND

Hospitalized patients experience sleep disruption with consequential physiological and psychological effects. Surgical patients are particularly at risk due to surgical stress and postoperative pain. This systematic review aimed to identify non-pharmacological interventions for improving sleep and exploring their effects on sleep-related and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and was preregistered on the Open Science Framework (doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/EA6BN) and last updated in November 2023. Studies that evaluated non-pharmacological interventions for hospitalized, adult patients were included. Thematic content analysis was performed to identify hypothesized mechanisms of action and modes of administration, in collaboration with a patient partner. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane Risk Of Bias (ROB) or Risk Of Bias In Non-Randomized Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tools.

RESULTS

A total of 59 eligible studies and data from 14 035 patients were included; 28 (47.5%) were randomized trials and 26 included surgical patients (10 trials). Thirteen unique non-pharmacological interventions were identified, 17 sleep measures and 7 linked health-related outcomes. Thematic analysis revealed two major themes for improving sleep in hospital inpatients: enhancing the sleep environment and utilizing relaxation and mindfulness techniques. Two methods of administration, self-administered and carer-administered, were identified. Environmental interventions, such as physical aids, and relaxation interventions, including aromatherapy, showed benefits to sleep measures. There was a lack of standardized sleep measurement and an overall moderate to high risk of bias across all studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review has identified several sleep interventions that are likely to benefit adult surgical patients, but there remains a lack of high-quality evidence to support their routine implementation.

Effects of Remifentanil Gradual Withdrawal Combined with Postoperative Infusion on Postoperative Hyperalgesia in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic hysterectomy: A Factorial Design, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia (RIH) increases the risk of persistent postoperative pain, making early postoperative analgesic therapy ineffective and affecting postoperative patient satisfaction. This study aimed to verify the effects of gradual withdrawal of remifentanil combined with postoperative pump infusion of remifentanil on postoperative hyperalgesia and pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Methods

This trial was a factorial design, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy were randomly allocated to the control group, postoperative pump infusion of remifentanil group, gradual withdrawal of remifentanil group, or gradual withdrawal plus postoperative pump infusion of remifentanil group (n = 35 each). The primary outcome was postoperative mechanical pain thresholds in the medial forearm. The secondary outcomes included postoperative mechanical pain thresholds around the incision, pain numeric rating scale scores, analgesic utilization, awakening agitation or sedation scores, a 15-item quality of recovery survey, and postoperative complications.

Results

Gradual withdrawal of remifentanil significantly increased postoperative pain thresholds versus abrupt discontinuation (P < 0.05), whereas postoperative infusion did not show significant differences compared to the absence of infusion (P > 0.05). The combined gradual withdrawal and postoperative infusion group exhibited the highest thresholds and had the lowest postoperative pain scores and analgesic requirements as well as the highest quality of recovery scores (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for agitation scores, sedation scores, or complication rates (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The novel combined gradual withdrawal and postoperative infusion of remifentanil uniquely attenuates postoperative hyperalgesia, pain severity, analgesic necessity, and improves recovery quality after laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Measuring quality of recovery (QoR-15) after degenerative spinal surgery: A prospective observational study

Introduction

The Quality of Recovery (QoR-15) score evaluates patient's recovery after surgery and anesthesia. There is a lack of studies focusing on the patients' quality of recovery in the early post-discharge phase after elective lumbar spine surgery.

Research question

We aimed to identify the QoR-15 score in patients who underwent surgery for degenerative low back conditions. Furthermore, we aimed to identify the individual items of the QoR-15 that are crucial for the patients' quality of recovery.

Material and methods

The study was conducted at a spine center in Denmark from December 2021 to September 2022. Data were collected, using a mobile health application, preoperatively and at 3 time points after hospital discharge. Descriptive analysis followed by within-subjects longitudinal repeated measures was conducted. The individual items of the QoR-15 score were explored using a heatmap.

Results

Data from 46 patients were analysed. The mean QoR-15 sum score at baseline was 105.4 ± 18.3. The mean QoR-15 sum scores were 108.1 ± 19.2 on post-discharge day 1, 118.5 ± 17.4 on day 7, and 120.7 ± 20.9 on day 14. The mean QoR-15 score from day 1 to day 7 improved significantly. Eight of the 15 items influenced the overall QoR-15 score.

Discussion and conclusion

This study applied the QoR-15 score in lumbar spine surgery patients. We identified specific items from the QoR-15 scale that are crucial to improving patients' recovery after hospital discharge. Further research is needed to identify specific needs in the post-discharge period in this group of patients.

Neoadjuvant calcium electroporation for potentially curable colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The development of new perioperative treatment modalities to activate the immune system in colorectal cancer might have a beneficial effect on reducing the risk of recurrence after surgery. Calcium electroporation is a promising treatment modality that potentially modulates the tumor microenvironment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of the procedure in the neoadjuvant setting in localized left-sided colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

The study included patients with potentially curable sigmoid or rectal cancer with no indication for other neoadjuvant treatment. Patients were offered calcium electroporation as a neoadjuvant treatment before elective surgery. Follow-up visits were conducted on the preoperative day before elective surgery, POD2, POD14, and POD30, with an evaluation of adverse events, impact on elective surgery, clinical examination, and quality of recovery.

RESULTS

Endoscopic calcium electroporation was performed as an outpatient procedure in all 21 cases, with no procedure-related complications reported. At follow-up, five adverse events were registered, two of which were classified as serious adverse events. Surgery was performed as planned in 19 patients (median time to surgery, 8 days), and the final two patients underwent surgery with a delay due to adverse events (14 and 33 days). No significant impact on the quality of recovery scores nor inflammatory markers were seen before and after calcium electroporation, nor baseline and POD30.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic calcium electroporation is a safe and feasible procedure in patients with potentially curable CRC. The study showed limited side effects and limited impact on the following elective surgical resection.

Randomized controlled trial of the effect of general anesthetics on postoperative recovery after minimally invasive nephrectomy

BACKGROUND

General anesthetic techniques can affect postoperative recovery. We compared the effect of propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and desflurane anesthesia on postoperative recovery.

METHODS

In this randomized trial, 150 patients undergoing robot-assisted or laparoscopic nephrectomy for renal cancer were randomly allocated to either the TIVA or desflurane anesthesia (DES) group. Postoperative recovery was evaluated using the Korean version of the Quality of Recovery-15 questionnaire (QoR-15K) at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was performed to analyze longitudinal QoR-15K data. Fentanyl consumption, pain severity, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and quality of life three weeks after discharge were also compared.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed for 70 patients in each group. The TIVA group showed significantly higher QoR-15K scores at 24 and 48 h postoperatively (24 h: DES, 96 [77, 109] vs. TIVA, 104 [82, 117], median difference 8 [95% CI: 1, 15], P = 0.029; 48 h: 110 [95, 128] vs. 125 [109, 130], median difference 8 [95% CI: 1, 15], P = 0.022), however not at 72 h (P = 0.400). The GEE revealed significant effects of group (adjusted mean difference 6.2, 95% CI: 0.39, 12.1, P = 0.037) and time (P < 0.001) on postoperative QoR-15K scores without group-time interaction (P = 0.051). However, there were no significant differences in other outcomes, except for fentanyl consumption, within the first 24 h postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Propofol-based TIVA showed only a transient improvement in postoperative recovery than desflurane anesthesia, without significant differences in other outcomes.

Comparison of Remimazolam versus Sevoflurane on the Postoperative Quality of Recovery in Cervical Spine Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Trial

Purpose

Remimazolam is a newly developed ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine. We compared overall functional recovery, including the postoperative Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire scores, between balanced inhalational anesthesia using sevoflurane and total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with remimazolam in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Patients and Methods

Seventy-two patients were randomized to the remimazolam (group R) or sevoflurane (group S) group. The primary outcome was the total QoR-15 score on postoperative day (POD) 1. We also assessed the total QoR-15 score on POD2, sub-scores of the QoR-15, perioperative parameters, and postoperative recovery profiles. Group-time interaction effects on the QoR-15 and its sub-scores were analyzed using a linear mixed model.

Results

The total QoR-15 score on POD1 (120.2 in group R vs 114.3 in group S, P=0.189) was not statistically different between the groups. There were no significant group-time interaction effects on total QoR-15 scores. Instead, patients in group R showed significantly better sub-scores in psychological and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) items on POD1, as well as a lower degree of PONV, than those in group S. Among the five dimensions of the QoR-15, a significant group-time interaction effect was observed for psychological support. Group R showed significantly less changeability in blood pressure and heart rate with a lower dose of intraoperatively administered vasopressor than group S.

Conclusion

Considering QoR-15, including PONV reduction, and intraoperative hemodynamic stability, remimazolam can be used as the novel and safe anesthetic agent for maintaining general anesthesia instead of sevoflurane in patients undergoing ACDF.

Translation and validation of the Norwegian version of the postoperative quality of recovery score QoR-15

BACKGROUND

As patient-centered care gains more attention, assessing the patient's perspective on their recovery has become increasingly important. In response to the need for a reliable and valid patient reported outcome measurement tool for major surgical resections in Norway. The Norwegian Registry for Gastrointestinal Surgery (NORGAST) initiated a project to translate and evaluate QoR-15's psychometric properties for patients going through general, gastrointestinal (GI), and hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) resectional surgery.

METHODS

After a translation and adaption of the original version of QoR-15 into Norwegian, the QoR-15NO was psychometrically evaluated including a confirmatory factor analysis to test for unidimensionality, as well as tests for content validity, internal consistency, measurement error, construct validity, feasibility, and responsiveness. This process included cognitive interviews using a structured interview guide. Further, patients who underwent various types of GI/HPB surgery at five hospitals in different parts of Norway completed the QoR-15NO before surgery and on the first or second day after surgery. The impact of surgery was classified according to Surgical Outcome Risk Tool v2 (SORT), in extra major/complex, major, intermediate, and minor.

RESULTS

This study included 324 patients with 83% return rate with both pre- and postoperative forms. There were negative correlations between duration of surgery and postoperative QoR-15 score and the difference between post- and preoperative score (change score). Individuals who had gone through surgery with major impact had a lower postoperative mean QoR-15 score (97) than their counterparts who had experienced either medium (QoR-15: 110) or minor (QoR15: 119) impact surgery. Cronbach's alpha (0.88) and Omega Alpha Total (ωt = 0.90) indicate that the scale has good to very good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was measured by Intra-class Correlation Coefficient to ICC = 0.70. Confirmatory factor analyses supported that a one-factor model with correlated residuals had a good fit to data.

CONCLUSION

This study supports QoR-15NO as a valid, essentially unidimensional, feasible, and responsive instrument among patients undergoing general, GI, and HPB resectional surgery in Norway. The total QoR-15NO score provides important information that can be used in an everyday clinical setting and integrated into NORGAST.

Spinal anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia (SAGA) on recovery after hip and knee arthroplasty: A study protocol for three randomized, single-blinded, multi-centre, clinical trials

Mobilisation difficulties, due to muscle weakness, and urinary retention are common reasons for prolonged admission following hip and knee arthroplasty procedures. Whether spinal anaesthesia is detrimental to early mobilisation is controversial. Previous studies have reported differences in post-operative recovery between spinal anaesthesia and general anaesthesia; however, up-to-date comparisons in fast-track setups are needed. Our randomized, single-blinded, multi-centre, clinical trials aim to compare the post-operative recovery after total hip (THA), total knee (TKA), and unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (UKA) respectively when using either spinal anaesthesia (SA) or general anaesthesia (GA) in a fast-track setup. Included patients (74 THA, 74 TKA, and 74 UKA patients) are randomized (1:1) to receive either SA (2 mL 0.5% Bupivacaine) or GA (Induction: Propofol 1.0-2.0 mg/kg iv with Remifentanil 3-5 mcg/kg iv. Infusion: Propofol 3-5 mg/kg/h and Remifentanil 0.5 mcg/kg/min iv). Patients undergo standard primary unilateral hip and knee arthroplasty procedures in an optimized fast-track setup with intraoperative local infiltrative analgesia in TKA and UKA, post-operative multimodal opioid sparing analgesia, immediate mobilisation with full weightbearing, no drains and in-hospital only thromboprophylaxis. Data will be collected on the day of surgery and until patients are discharged. The primary outcome is the ability to be safely mobilised during a 5-m walking test within 6 h of surgery. Secondary outcomes include fulfilment of discharge criteria, post-operative pain, dizziness, and nausea as well as patient reported recovery and opioid related side effects. Data will also be gathered on all hospital contacts within 30-days of surgery. This study will offer insights into advantages and disadvantages of anaesthetic methods used in fast-track arthroplasty surgery.

Effects of opioid-free anaesthesia on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (OFA-PONV trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication after general anaesthesia and is associated with morbidity and prolonged length of stay. Growing evidence suggest that opioid-free general anaesthesia (OFA) may reduce PONV in various surgical settings. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of OFA on the incidence of PONV compared with opioid-based anaesthesia among adults undergoing thoracoscopic surgery.

METHODS

This is a prospective, single-centre, randomised controlled trial comparing OFA and opioid-based anaesthesia for thoracoscopic surgery. A total of 168 adults will be randomised with a 1:1 ratio to receive either opioid-free anaesthesia or opioid-based anaesthesia. The primary outcome will be the incidence of PONV within 24 h after operation. The secondary outcomes will include the severity of PONV, quality of recovery, pain at rest, 6-min walking test, and health-related quality of life after operation.

DISCUSSION

The benefit-risk of OFA for patients after operation is contradictory in previous studies, so further study is required. This trial will focus on the effect of OFA on the incidence of PONV in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. This trial adopts uniformed PONV and perioperative pain management, standardised randomised and blind, clear-cut inclusion and exclusion criteria, and standardised scales to assess the severity of PONV after surgery, the quality of postoperative recovery, and the health status at 6 months. The findings of this study will help to provide references to promote early recovery of patients after lung surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05411159. Registered on 9 June 2022.

Comparison of different nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for cesarean section: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cesarean section is associated with moderate to severe pain and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly employed. The optimal NSAID, however, has not been elucidated. In this network meta-analysis and systematic review, we compared the influence of control and individual NSAIDs on the indices of analgesia, side effects, and quality of recovery.

METHODS

CDSR, CINAHL, CRCT, Embase, LILACS, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing a specific NSAID to either control or another NSAID in elective or emergency cesarean section under general or neuraxial anesthesia. Network plots and league tables were constructed, and the quality of evidence was evaluated with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) analysis.

RESULTS

We included 47 trials. Cumulative intravenous morphine equivalent consumption at 24 h, the primary outcome, was examined in 1,228 patients and 18 trials, and control was found to be inferior to diclofenac, indomethacin, ketorolac, and tenoxicam (very low quality evidence owing to serious limitations, imprecision, and publication bias). Indomethacin was superior to celecoxib for pain score at rest at 8-12 h and celecoxib + parecoxib, diclofenac, and ketorolac for pain score on movement at 48 h. In regard to the need for and time to rescue analgesia COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib were inferior to other NSAIDs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our review suggests the presence of minimal differences among the NSAIDs studied. Nonselective NSAIDs may be more effective than selective NSAIDs, and some NSAIDs such as indomethacin might be preferable to other NSAIDs.

Patient-Reported Quality of Recovery after Local Anesthesia versus Brachial Plexus Block in Hand Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

Both local anesthesia (LA) and brachial plexus (BP) anesthesia are commonly used in hand surgery. LA has increased efficiency and reduced costs, but BP is often favored for more complex hand surgery, despite requiring greater time and resources. The primary objective of this study was to assess the quality of recovery of patients who received LA or BP block for hand surgery. Secondary objectives were to compare postoperative pain and opioid use.

METHODS

This randomized, controlled, noninferiority study enrolled patients undergoing surgery distal to the carpal bones. Patients were randomized to either LA (wrist or digital block) or BP block (infraclavicular block) before surgery. Patients completed the Quality of Recovery-15 questionnaire on postoperative day (POD) 1. Pain level was assessed with a numeric pain rating scale, and narcotic consumption was recorded on POD1 and POD3.

RESULTS

A total of 76 patients completed the study (LA, n = 46, BP, n = 30). No statistically significant difference was found for median Quality of Recovery-15 score between LA [127.5 (interquartile range, 28)] and BP block [123.5 (interquartile range, 31)]. The inferiority margin of LA to BP block at the 95% confidence interval was less than the minimal clinically important difference of 8, demonstrating noninferiority of LA compared with BP block. There was no statistically significant difference between LA and BP block for numeric pain rating scale scores or narcotic consumption on POD1 and POD3 ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

LA is noninferior to BP block for hand surgery with regard to patient-reported quality of recovery, postoperative pain, and narcotic use.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, II.

Comparison of the Quality of Recovery-15 score in patients undergoing oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery under monitored anesthesia care versus general anesthesia: a prospective quality improvement study

PURPOSE

Whether changing the institutional practice from general anesthesia (GA) to monitored anesthesia care (MAC) affects postoperative quality of recovery for oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is currently unknown. We designed this quasi-experimental study to evaluate a quality improvement (QI) initiative instituted in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

METHODS

We chose a prospective controlled cohort study design for this QI study, where patients underwent oncoplastic BCS under MAC in one hospital and BCS under GA at another hospital (control). A total of 125 patients undergoing surgery between May 2021 and February 2022 were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were male sex, total mastectomy, or age under 18. All other patients were included. The primary outcome was the change in Quality of Recovery-15 score at 24 hr compared with a preoperative baseline. Secondary outcomes included intra- and postoperative time profiles, perioperative analgesic and antiemetic use and length of hospital stay. Statistical analysis included a propensity score analysis to account for confounding variables.

RESULTS

Sixty-four patients received GA and 61 MAC. No enrolled patients were lost to follow up but two were excluded secondarily. No patients receiving MAC needed conversion to GA or unplanned airway management. Monitored anesthesia care was associated with superior outcomes for the primary outcome (β/SE[β], 3.31; 99.5% confidence interval, 0.45 to 6.17; P = 0.001) and most secondary outcomes, when accounting for confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONS

A care transformation initiative for patients undergoing oncoplastic BCS under MAC was associated with a higher quality recovery profile and shorter length of stay without any increase in perioperative or postoperative adverse events.

Analgesic efficacy of anterior iliopsoas muscle space block combined with local infiltration analgesia after total hip arthroplasty: A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided anterior iliopsoas muscle space block (AIMSB) combined with local infiltration analgesia (LIA) for pain management and recovery in patients who have undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA) via a posterolateral approach.

METHODS

In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 80 patients undergoing primary THA under general anesthesia were included in the final analysis between March 22, 2022, and June 1, 2022. All patients were randomly assigned to receive AIMSB combined with LIA (AIMSB group, n = 40) or sham AIMSB and LIA (Sham group, n = 40). The primary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption (mg) within 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes were pain scores on a visual analog scale (VAS) at rest or during motion after surgery, time to first rescue analgesia, cumulative morphine consumption during hospitalization, intraoperative consumption of opioids, postoperative recovery, and postoperative adverse effects.

RESULTS

Patients in the AIMSB group consumed significantly less morphine than the Sham group within the first 24 h and throughout hospitalization, as well as smaller amounts of intraoperative opioids. Also, significantly lower pain scores were recorded at rest or during motion within 24 h after surgery in AIMSB patients. Patients in the AIMSB group recovered more quickly than Sham patients. No significant difference was observed in quadriceps strength and postoperative complications between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to treatment with LIA alone, ultrasound-guided AIMSB combined with LIA can provide better postoperative pain relief, decrease opioid consumption, promote motor sparing, and enhance the recovery of THA patients.

The effects of dexamethasone added to ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve (IIN/IHN) block on rebound pain in inguinal hernia surgery: a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of IV dexamethasone added to one single injection Ilioinguinal/Iliohypogastric Nerve (IIN/IHN) block on tramadol consumption and Modified Rebound Pain Score (MRPS) in the first postoperative 24 h in inguinal hernia surgery.

METHODS

Five mg IV dexamethasone as an analgesic adjunct in the multimodal analgesia was administered to the patients who were scheduled for Inguinal Hernia Surgery and randomized to Group Dex and normal saline was administered to the patients who were randomized to the Control Group in addition to IIN/IHN Block. Postoperative tramadol consumption, Modified Rebound Pain Score (MRPS), the incidence of Rebound Pain, Rebound Pain time, postoperative 48-h opioid consumption, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores, Quality of Recovery Score (QoR-15), Sleep Quality, and adverse events were evaluated in the patients.

RESULTS

The mean scores of MRPS were lower in Group Dex than in the Control Group, both at rest (p = 0.001) and with motion (p = 0.001). Tramadol consumption in the first postoperative 24 h was 45.17 ± 49.59 mg in Group Dex and 95 ± 59.23 mg in the Control Group. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, adding IV dexamethasone as a part of multimodal analgesia to IIN/IHN block for inguinal hernia surgery resulted in lower MRPS and lower postoperative opioid (tramadol) consumption. For this reason, IV dexamethasone can be added to the IIN/IHN block after inguinal hernia surgery to reduce the incidence of rebound pain, rebound pain scores, and NRS scores for pain, decrease postoperative opioid consumption, and improve the quality of recovery.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: Ref; NCT05172908, Date: December 29, 2021.

Postoperative stellate ganglion block to reduce myocardial injury after laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer: protocol for a randomised trial

INTRODUCTION

Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is usually used in the department of algiatry. But preoperative SGB may reduce adverse cardiovascular events in high-risk patients, although evidence remains sparse. Therefore, we aim to determine whether a single-shot postoperative SGB can reduce the incidence of myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery (MINS) and improve recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is an investigator-initiated, single-centre, randomised, two-arm clinical trial enrolling patients aged over 45 years and scheduled for elective laparoscopic radical colorectal surgery with at least one risk factor for MINS. A total of 950 eligible patients will be randomised into a routine or block groups. The primary outcome is the incidence of MINS. The secondary outcomes include the Visual Analogue Scale of pain during rest and movement, the incidence of delirium, quality of recovery (QOR) assessed by QOR-15, and sleep quality assessed by Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. Tertiary outcomes include time to first flatus, gastrointestinal complications such as anastomotic leak or ileus, length of hospital stay, collapse incidence of severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications of myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and all-cause mortality within 30 days after the operation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The protocol was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of the China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University (Approval number: 2021081018) prior to recruitment. The study will be performed according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. The findings of this study will be published and presented through various scientific forums.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2200055319.

Assessing Common Content and Responsiveness of the QoR-15 and the SF-8 in the Context of Recovery from Regional Anesthesia for Joint Replacement

PURPOSE

There is no consensus regarding how best to measure postoperative quality of recovery after anesthesia/surgery (e.g., using 24-hour survey instruments) in veterans or active military. Our goals were to (1) describe health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) and recovery across time in veterans, (2) examine the commonality between the quality of recovery (QoR-15) and short-form (SF) surveys (including the SF-8, 24-hour version), and (3) examine the responsiveness of these surveys.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards from the University of Pittsburgh, the VA Pittsburgh, and the Human Research Protection Office of the Department of Defense. Secondary analyses of data were executed based on a randomized trial dataset of knee/hip arthroplasty patients, the study having recruited 135 total veterans. QoR-15 and HRQoL SF surveys were completed and self-reported before surgery (pre-op), on postoperative day 2 (PO-D2), and 6 weeks postoperatively. Descriptive statistics were used to examine scores across time. Common content was examined using Pearson's r. Responsiveness was examined using distribution-based methods.

RESULTS

Average veteran age was 67 year, 89% were male, 88% white, and average body mass index was 33 kg∙m-2. QoR-15 scores declined from pre-op to PO-D2 but were higher than pre-op at 6 weeks. SF physical component summary (PCS) scores were low both pre-op and PO-D2, but were elevated over baseline at 6 weeks. SF mental component summary (MCS) scores declined from baseline to PO-D2 but were higher than pre-op at 6 weeks. Associations of the QoR-15 total score and PCS/MCS were medium/large and statistically significant at P ≤ .01. Both instruments were responsive to changes.

CONCLUSION

QoR-15 and SF-8 have high content commonality and performed similarly in veterans across time. SF-8 has added benefits of (1) brevity, (2) assessment of physical and mental health components, and (3) being normed to the general population. The SF-8, if used without the QoR-15 in tandem in future study of anesthesia-related outcomes, would need to be supplemented by separate questions addressing postoperative nausea/vomiting (a frequent outcome after anesthesia that is relevant to same-day and next-day mobilization after elective joint replacement surgery).

Identifying risk factors for poor multidimensional recovery after major surgery: A systematic review

Traditional risk factors used for predicting poor postoperative recovery have focused on postoperative complications, adverse symptoms (nausea, pain), length of hospital stay, and patient quality of life. Despite these being traditional performance indicators of patient postoperative "status," they may not fully define the multidimensional nature of patient recovery. The definition of postoperative recovery is thus evolving to include patient-reported outcomes that are important to the patient. Previous reviews have focused on risk factors for the above traditional outcomes after major surgery. Yet, there remains a need for further study of risk factors predicting multidimensional patient-focused recovery, and investigation beyond the immediate postoperative period after patients are discharged from the hospital. This review aimed to appraise the current literature identifying risk factors for multidimensional patient recovery.

METHODS

A systematic review without meta-analysis was performed to qualitatively summarize preoperative risk factors for multidimensional recovery 4-6 weeks after major surgery (PROSPERO, CRD42022321626). We reviewed three electronic databases between January 2012 and April 2022. The primary outcome was risk factors for multidimensional recovery at 4-6 weeks. A GRADE quality appraisal and a risk of bias assessment were completed.

RESULTS

In total, 5150 studies were identified, after which 1506 duplicates were removed. After the primary and secondary screening, nine articles were included in the final review. Interrater agreements between the two assessors for the primary and secondary screening process were 86% (k = 0.47) and 94% (k = 0.70), respectively. Factors associated with poor recovery were found to include ASA grade, recovery tool baseline score, physical function, number of co-morbidities, previous surgery, and psychological well-being. Mixed results were reported for age, BMI, and preoperative pain. Due to the observational nature, heterogeneity, multiple definitions of recovery, and moderate risk of bias of the primary studies, the quality of evidence was rated from very low to low.

CONCLUSION

Our review found that there were few studies assessing preoperative risk factors as predictors for poor postoperative multidimensional recovery. This confirms the need for higher quality studies assessing risk for poor recovery, ideally with a consistent and multi-dimensional definition of recovery.

Role of protocol-guided perioperative care to enhance recovery after head and neck neoplasm surgery: An institutional experience

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) improve recovery after surgery. This study aimed to determine whether ERAS leads to a decrease in stay in the hospital and improves global and functional recovery after head and neck neoplasms surgery.

METHODS

We performed a prospective case and historical control study after the ERAS application. The hospital database selected 50 confirmed eligible patients in control non-ERAS group. Prospectively 54 patients were included in the ERAS group. The primary outcome was time to readiness for discharge (TRD); secondary outcomes were the length of stay (LOS), readmission rate of up to 30 days and Quality of recovery score QoR-15. Data were compared with appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests.

RESULTS

Baseline demographic data of patients were comparable between the two groups. Patients in ERAS group had significantly shorter TRD compared to the non-ERAS group 8 (6-10) vs 11 (8-16); p-value = 0.002. LOS was also significantly shorter in the ERAS group compared to the non-ERAS group [8 (7-11) vs 12 (9-17); p-value = 0.002]. Readmission at 30-days was no different, with six patients in each group. QoR-15 score was statistically better in ERAS group (94.88 ± 12.50) compared to non-ERAS group (85.44 ± 12.68) [p value < 0.001].

CONCLUSION

Implementing the ERAS programme decreased TRD and LOS and improved patient-reported recovery outcome QoR-15 in head and neck neoplasms surgery.

Effect of systemic lidocaine on postoperative quality of recovery, the gastrointestinal function, inflammatory cytokines of lumbar spinal stenosis surgery: a randomized trial

Surgery is one of the most frequent and effective intervention strategies for lumbar spinal stenosis, however, one-third of patients are not satisfied with postoperative outcomes. It is not clear whether perioperative systemic lidocaine could accelerate the early postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing lumbar spinal stenosis surgery. 66 patients were enrolled in this trial. Lidocaine or placebo was administered at a loading dose of 1.5 mg/kg for 10 min and then infused at 2.0 mg/kg/hour till the end of surgery. Continued infusion by postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with a dose of 40 mg/hour. The primary outcome was the quality of recovery. Secondary outcomes included the time of the patient's first flatus, catheter removal time, underground time from the end of the surgery, pain score, levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), sufentanil rescues, patients' satisfaction scores, and complications of lidocaine. Eventually, 56 patients were in the final analysis with similar age, Body Mass Index (BMI), duration of surgery and anesthesia, and median QoR-15 score (a development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Postoperative Quality of Recovery Score). The difference in median QoR-15 score in placebo versus lidocaine patients was statistically significant (IQR, 106 (104-108) versus 114 (108.25-119.25), P < 0.001). The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score at the 12th hour, median sufentanil rescue consumption, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) of patients treatment with lidocaine were lower. Nevertheless, patients given lidocaine had high satisfaction scores. Suggesting that lidocaine enhanced the postoperative quality of recovery, met early postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery, provided superior pain relief, lessened inflammatory cytokines, etc., indicating it may be a useful intervention to aid recovery following lumbar spinal stenosis surgery.

Correlation Between Pain Intensity and Quality of Recovery After Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery for Lung Cancer Resection

Purpose

The Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire provides a multifaceted assessment of postoperative recovery, and the resulting score is recommended as an endpoint in clinical studies focused on postoperative pain. We aimed to investigate the correlation between the QoR-15 score and postoperative pain intensity in surgical patients.

Patients and Methods

Adult patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer resection and were enrolled in a prospective registry or in a previous prospective study were included in this study. Baseline and perioperative data, including the results of assessment using the Korean version of the QoR-15 (QoR-15K) questionnaire at 48 hours postoperatively, were collected from the database. Correlations between the QoR-15K total score, questionnaire dimensions, and postoperative pain intensity at 48 hours postoperatively were determined using the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ).

Results

We analyzed a total of 137 eligible patients. Significant negative correlations were noted between the QoR-15K total score and pain intensity at rest (ρ = -0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.57 - -0.31, P < 0.001) and during coughing (ρ = -0.55, 95% CI: -0.65 - -0.42, P < 0.001) at 48 hours postoperatively. The pain dimension and pain intensity at 48 hours postoperatively showed significant correlations with physical comfort, emotional state, and physical independence dimensions. Multivariable logistic regression revealed a significant negative association between the pain score at 24 hours postoperatively and good or excellent postoperative recovery.

Conclusion

The results support the impact of postoperative pain on the overall postoperative quality of recovery in patients who underwent VATS for lung cancer resection. Moreover, the QoR-15K score may be considered as a primary endpoint in clinical studies on postoperative pain control.

Efficacy of Ice Compress Combined With Serratus Anterior Plane Block in Analgesia After Thoracoscopic Pneumonectomy: A Randomized Controlled Study

PURPOSE

To explore the analgesic effect of the ice pack combined with serratus anterior plane block after thoracoscopic pulmonary resection.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial design.

METHODS

This prospective randomized controlled trial recruited patients who underwent thoracoscopic pneumonectomy in a grade A tertiary hospital from October 2021 to March 2022. The patients were randomly divided into the control group, the serratus anterior plane block group, the ice pack group, and the ice pack combined with serratus anterior plane block group. The analgesic effect was evaluated by collecting the postoperative visual analog score.

FINDINGS

A total of 133 patients agreed to participate in this study, of which 120 patients were eventually included (n = 30/group). The primary outcome was that the pain in SAP block group, ice pack group, and ice pack combined with SAP block group decreased significantly within 24 hours compared with the control group (P < .05). Also, significant differences were noted in other secondary outcomes, such as Prince-Henry pain score within 12 hours, 15-item quality of recovery (QoR-15) score within 24 hours, and fever times within 24 hours. No significant difference was detected in the C-reactive protein value, white blood cell count, and the use of additional analgesics within 24 hours postoperatively (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients after thoracoscopic pneumonectomy, ice pack, serratus anterior plane block, and ice pack combined with serratus anterior plane block produce better postoperative analgesic effects than intravenous analgesia. The combined group exhibited the best outcomes.

High dose dexamethasone in high pain responders undergoing total hip arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) may delay postoperative mobilization and discharge. Postoperative pain has been shown to be higher in pain catastrophisers and patients receiving opioids. A single dose of glucocorticoid reduces pain after THA, and an increased dose of glucocorticoids has been found to be effective in patients at high risk of postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), however, the ideal dose in THA remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a high dose (1 mg kg -1 ) vs. intermediate dose (0.3 mg kg -1 ) of dexamethasone on pain after THA.

DESIGN

A randomized double-blind controlled study.

SETTING

A two-centre study including two large arthroplasty sites in Denmark was conducted from February 2019 to August 2020.

PATIENTS

A total of 160 patients undergoing THA by neuraxial block with multimodal analgesia, having a Pain Catastrophising Scale score >20 and/or preoperative opioid use were included.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone 1 mg kg -1 or 0.3 mg kg -1 before THA.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome was percentage of patients experiencing moderate to severe pain (visual analogue scale, VAS > 30 mm on a 0 to 100 mm scale) on ambulating 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included cumulated pain scores, C-reactive protein (CRP), opioid use, postoperative recovery scores, length of stay, complications, and re-admission within 30 and 90 days.

RESULTS

No difference was found in percentage of VAS >30 mm 24 h after surgery in the 5-m walk test (VAS > 30/VAS ≤ 30%); 33/42 (44%) vs. 32/43 (43%), relative risk = 1.04 (95% confidence interval 0.72-1.51; P  = 0.814) in 1 mg kg -1vs. 0.3 mg kg -1 respectively. No differences were found in CRP and opioid use between groups. Also, no intergroup differences were found in recovery scores, re-admissions, or complications.

CONCLUSION

1 mg kg -1vs. 0.3 mg kg -1 dexamethasone improved neither postoperative pain nor recovery in THA in a cohort of predicted high pain responders.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov ID-number NCT03763760 and EudraCT-number 2018-2636-25.

Impact of Regional Anesthesia on Subjective Quality of Recovery in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Regional anesthesia can be effective for managing pain after thoracic surgery. This study evaluated whether it can also improve patient-reported quality of recovery (QoR) after such surgery.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

SETTING

Postoperative care.

INTERVENTION

Perioperative regional anesthesia.

PATIENTS

Adults undergoing thoracic surgery.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome was total QoR scores 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes were postoperative opioid consumption, pain scores, pulmonary function, respiratory complications, and other adverse effects. Eight studies were identified, of which 6 involving 532 patients receiving video-assisted thoracic surgery were included in the quantitative analysis of QoR. Regional anesthesia significantly improved QoR-40 score (mean difference 9.48; 95% CI 3.53-15.44; I2 = 89%; 4 trials involving 296 patients) and QoR-15 score (mean difference 6.7; 95% CI 2.58-10.82; I2 = 0%; 2 trials involving 236 patients). Regional anesthesia also significantly reduced postoperative opioid consumption and the incidence of nausea and vomiting. Insufficient data were available to meta-analyze the effects of regional anesthesia on postoperative pulmonary function or respiratory complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The available evidence suggests that regional anesthesia can enhance QoR after video-assisted thoracic surgery. Future studies should confirm and extend these findings.

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block versus port site infiltration for postoperative pain and quality of recovery in adult patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: An assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial

Background and Aim

Pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is common and results in poor quality of recovery. Our study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy of port site local infiltration, novel erector spinae plane (ESP) block, and standard regimen in patients undergoing LC and its impact on functional recovery.

Methods

After ethical approval and registering the trial, we randomly allocated 105 adult patients undergoing LC to three groups: Group I (n = 35), received multimodal analgesia; Group II (n = 35), received pre-incisional port site infiltration with 20 ml of 0.375% bupivacaine; and Group III (n = 35), preoperative bilateral ESP block with 20 ml of 0.375% bupivacaine bilaterally was administered. Pain severity, fentanyl consumption, and time to first rescue analgesia were recorded over 24 h. Quality of recovery (QoR-15) was assessed at baseline and 24 h postoperatively.

Results

Pain in the first 6 h was lowest in the ESP group (P < 0.001). Although static pain in the infiltration group was comparable with that in the ESP group after 6 h (P > 0.05), dynamic pain was better in the ESP group till 20 h postoperatively (P < 0.05). Fentanyl consumption was significantly lower in the ESP group (P < 0.001). Global and sub-dimensional QoR-15 scores were significantly higher only in the ESP group at 24 h compared to the other two groups (P < 0.001). The infiltration group did better than the control group in terms of total opioid requirement (P < 0.001) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score after 6 h (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

ESP block provided lower postoperative pain scores with opioid-sparing and better quality of recovery in patients undergoing LC.

Effect of superficial and deep parasternal blocks on recovery after cardiac surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Pain is frequent after cardiac surgery and source of multiple complications that can impair postoperative recovery. Regional anesthesia seems to be an interesting technique to reduce the pain in this context, but its effectiveness in improving recovery has been poorly studied so far. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two of the most studied chest wall blocks in cardiac surgery, i.e., the superficial and the deep parasternal intercostal plane blocks (SPIP and DPIP respectively), in addition to standard care, versus the standard care without regional anesthesia, on the quality of postoperative recovery (QoR) after cardiac surgery with sternotomy.

METHODS

This is a single-center, single-blind, controlled, randomized trial with a 1:1:1 ratio. Patients (n = 254) undergoing cardiac surgery with sternotomy will be randomized into three groups: a control group with standard care and no regional anesthesia, a SPIP group with standard care and a SPIP, and a DPIP with standard care and a DPIP. All groups will receive the usual analgesic protocol. The primary endpoint is the value of the QoR evaluated by the QoR-15 at 24 h after the surgery.

DISCUSSION

This study will be the first powered trial to compare the SPIP and the DPIP on global postoperative recovery after cardiac surgery with sternotomy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05345639. Registered on April 26, 2022.

Sex and age differences in chronic postoperative pain among patients undergoing thoracic surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Background

The effect of sex and age on chronic post-thoracic surgical pain (CPTP) at rest and with activity remains unclear. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the incidence of chronic postoperative pain (at rest and with activity) and sex/age differences.

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective study that included adult patients who had undergone elective thoracic surgery. Patients were divided into two groups based on sex. Demographic and perioperative data were collected, including age, sex, education level, Body Mass Index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, and medical history (hypertension, diabetes mellitus). Chronic postoperative pain data were collected by telephone follow-up.

Results

Among the 3,159 patients enrolled, 1,762 were male, and 1,397 were female. After creating a matched-pairs cohort, 1,856 patients were analyzed. The incidence of CPTP at rest was 14.9% among males and 17.8% among females (p = 0.090). The incidence of CPTP with activity was 28.4% among males and 35.0% among females (p = 0.002). We analyzed three different models after propensity matching to validate the stability of the prediction model between sex and CPTP, and female sex was a significant predictor of CPTP with activity 3 months after surgery. Further analysis showed that females in the 45-55-year-old age group were more prone to develop CPTP.

Conclusion

Females have a higher incidence of chronic postoperative pain with activity after thoracic surgery. Females in the 45-55-year-old age group are more prone to develop CPTP than females in other age groups.

Intraoperative intravenous low-dose esketamine improves quality of early recovery after laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer: A prospective, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Esketamine has higher potency, stronger receptor affinity, a stronger analgesic effect, a higher in vivo clearance rate, and a lower incidence of adverse reactions when compared to ketamine. However, there have been few ketamine studies to assess patient-centered, overall recovery outcomes from the perspective of patients with colorectal cancer.

METHODS

This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Ninety-two patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to either the esketamine (K group) or non-eskatamine (C group) group. After anesthesia induction, a loading dose of 0.25 mg/kg was administered, followed by continuous infusion at a rate of 0.12 mg.kg-1.h-1 until closure of surgical incisions in the K group. In the C group, an equivalent volume of normal saline was infused. The primary outcome was quality of recovery at 24 h after surgery, as measured by the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) scale. The QoR-15 was evaluated at three timepoints: before (Tbefore), 24 h (T24h) and 72 h (T72h) after surgery.

MAIN RESULTS

A total of 88 patients completed this study. The total QoR-15 scores in K group (n = 45) were higher than in the C group (n = 43) at 24 h: 112.33 ± 8.79 vs. 103.93 ± 9.03 (P = 0.000) and at 72 h: 118.73 ± 7.82 vs. 114.79 ± 7.98 (P = 0.022). However, the differences between the two groups only had clinical significance at 24 h after surgery. Among the five dimensions of the QoR-15, physical comfort (P = 0.003), emotional state (P = 0.000), and physical independence (P = 0.000) were significantly higher at 24 h in the K group, and physical comfort (P = 0.048) was higher at 72 h in the K group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that intraoperative intravenous low-dose esketamine could improve the early postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer from the perspective of patients.

Effect of rectus sheath anaesthesia versus thoracic epidural analgesia on postoperative recovery quality after elective open abdominal surgery in a French regional hospital: the study protocol of a randomised controlled QoR-RECT-CATH trial

INTRODUCTION

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols increase patient well-being while significantly reducing mortality, costs and length-of-stay after surgery. A key component is multimodal analgesia that prevents postoperative pain and facilitates early refeeding and mobilisation. Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) was long the gold standard for locoregional anaesthesia in anterior abdominal wall surgery. However, newer wall-block techniques such as rectus-sheath block (RSB) may be preferable because they are less invasive and may provide equivalent analgesia with fewer side effects. Since the evidence base remains limited, the Quality Of Recovery enhanced by REctus sheat CATHeter (QoR-RECT-CATH) randomised controlled trial (RCT) was designed to assess whether RSB elicits better postoperative rehabilitation than TEA after laparotomy.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This open-label parallel-arm 1:1-allocated RCT will determine whether RSB is superior to TEA in 110 patients undergoing scheduled midline laparotomy in terms of postoperative rehabilitation quality. The setting is a regional French hospital that provides opioid-free anaesthesia for all laparotomies within an ERAS programme. Recruited patients will be ≥18 years, scheduled to undergo laparotomy, have American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score 1-4 and lack contraindications to ropivacaine/TEA. TEA-allocated patients will receive an epidural catheter before surgery while RSB-allocated patients will receive rectus sheath catheters after surgery. All other pre/peri/postoperative procedures will be identical, including multimodal postoperative analgesia provided according to our standard of care. Primary objective is a change in total Quality-of-Recovery-15 French-language (QoR-15F) score on postoperative day (POD) 2 relative to baseline. QoR-15F is a patient-reported outcome measure that is commonly used to measure ERAS outcomes. The 15 secondary objectives include postoperative pain scores, opioid consumption, functional recovery measures and adverse events.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The French Ethics Committee (Sud-Ouest et Outre-Mer I Ethical Committee) gave approval. Subjects are recruited after providing written consent after receiving the information provided by the investigator. The results of this study will be made public through peer-reviewed publication and, if possible, conference publications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04985695.