Association between perioperative intravenous lidocaine and subjective quality of recovery: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Impact of erector spinae plane block on postoperative recovery quality in spinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative recovery quality (QoR) is a key indicator for evaluating the restoration of patients' functional status and overall quality of life post-surgery. Moreover, it is an essential metric for assessing the effectiveness of patient-centered anesthetic care. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is an innovative regional analgesia technique that has garnered considerable attention for its potential use in spinal surgeries. Although some studies suggest that ESPB may improve QoR, the results remain contentious and inconclusive. This meta-analysis aims to systematically evaluate the effects of ESPB on the subjective quality of recovery in patients undergoing spinal surgery, with the objective of providing more robust evidence to support its clinical application.

METHODS

On September 23, 2024, we conducted a systematic search across the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) relevant to ESPB. The studies evaluated the effect of ESPB compared to conventional analgesia on QoR in patients undergoing spinal surgery. The primary outcome measure of this study was postoperative the 24-hour QoR score, as assessed by validated QoR scales (QoR-15 and QoR-40). Secondary outcome measures included the QoR score at 48 h postoperatively, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and the consumption of opioid analgesics in the first 24 h postoperatively.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included eight studies, with a total of 578 patients. The results demonstrated that, compared to the control group, the ESPB group showed improvements in overall QoR-15 scores (mean difference [MD]: 9.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.39-11.13; P < 0.01; I² = 0%) and QoR-40 scores (MD: 11.8; 95% CI: 6.35-17.25; P = 0.000), indicating clinically meaningful benefits. Additionally, although the QoR-15 (MD: 3.69; 95% CI: 2.60-4.78; P < 0.01; I² = 2.31%) and QoR-40 scores (MD: 5.70; 95% CI: 0.11-11.29; P = 0.046) at 48 h postoperatively demonstrated a statistical improvement, the magnitude of this change did not reach the threshold for clinical relevance. Moreover, ESPB reduced the incidence of PONV (log odds ratio [log(OR)]: -0.63; 95% CI: -1.11--0.14; P = 0.01; I² = 24.62%) and the 24-hour postoperative opioid consumption(SMD: -0.56; 95% CI: -0.83--0.29; P < 0.01; I² = 0%).

CONCLUSION

ESPB was associated with an improvement in the quality of recovery within the first 24 h postoperatively in patients undergoing spinal surgery, along with a reduction in the incidence of PONV and opioid consumption. However, while the improvement in recovery quality at 48 h postoperatively was statistically significant, its clinical significance was limited. These findings suggest that ESPB may be a beneficial adjunct for enhancing postoperative recovery, but further studies are needed to validate its long-term impact and clinical applicability.

Effect of Intravenous Lidocaine on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia Surgery: A Systematic Review of a Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common neurologic complication that occurs after surgery, which prolongs the hospital stay of patients to a certain extent, increases the occurrence of complications, and even leads to the patient's death. Intravenous lidocaine can reduce perioperative inflammatory response in patients undergoing surgery, but its effect on postoperative cognitive function has not been systematically evaluated. Notably, prior findings regarding the impact of intravenous lidocaine on postoperative cognitive function have been variable. Therefore, on this basis, this study explored the effects of intravenous lidocaine on postoperative cognitive function of patients undergoing general anesthesia through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, Wanfang Medical Database, China Biomedical Literature Database, and China Academic Journals Full-Text Database were searched from inception to February 2024 for relevant studies that investigated effect of intravenous lidocaine on POCD in patients undergoing general anesthesia surgery. Key data obtained from the referenced literature included the prevalence of POCD, scores from the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and perioperative serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and central nervous specific protein (S-100β) protein, serving as biomarkers for central nervous system specificity. Meta-analysis of data was performed using RevMan5.3 software. The software Trial Sequential Analysis (version 0.9) (TSA) was used to analyze high-quality literature focusing on POCD outcome indicators to explore the reliability of the results of meta-analysis.

FINDINGS

Twenty-five studies were included for quality evaluation and data analysis. The studies compared the effect of intravenous lidocaine on the incidence of POCD in patients undergoing surgery at different time points. Subgroup analysis was used to investigate the incidence of POCD at different time points. The results showed that intravenous lidocaine significantly reduced the incidence of POCD at 1, 3, 7, 9 days and 1 year after surgery compared with the control group (on the first day postoperatively: odds ratio (OR) = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.32-0.69, P < 0.001; postoperative day 3: OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.25-0.72, P = 0.002; postoperative day 7: OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.21-0.55, P < 0.001; postoperative day 9: OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.17-0.61, P < 0.001; 1 year postoperatively: OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.28-0.54, P < 0.001). The incidence of POCD in patients undergoing general anesthesia at postoperative day 1 with lidocaine was analyzed sequentially. The results showed that with the increase of the included sample size, the Z-curve still did not exceed the TSA boundary and did not reach the required information size. Fourteen studies compared MMSE scores before, 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after surgery between the 2 groups. The results showed that the MMSE score of lidocaine group was significantly higher than that of control group on the first and third postoperative day, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase and central nervous specific protein in the lidocaine group significantly decreased postoperatively and on the first and third day postoperatively.

IMPLICATIONS

Perioperative intravenous lidocaine may improve postoperative cognitive function and reduce the incidence of POCD. However, limited to the current situation of low quality and small sample size, TSA analysis suggests the need for larger high-quality sample to confirm the accuracy of our findings.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

This is a systematic review, equivalent to a review, and does not require clinical trial registration. We have registered on PROSPERO.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42023493992.

Opioid-free anaesthesia and postoperative quality of recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

BACKGROUND

There is still debate over whether opioid-free anaesthesia (OFA) can improve the patient-reported quality of recovery (QoR).

METHODS

A search was conducted across Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE until June 2024 for randomized controlled trials comparing the impact of OFA and opioid-based anaesthesia (OBA) on QoR in adult patients undergoing general anaesthesia. The primary outcome was the quality of recovery measured with the QoR scale. The secondary outcomes were the five dimensions of the QoR scale.

RESULTS

The analysis included 15 studies, and showed that compared with OBA, OFA improved the global QoR score at postoperative 24 h (SMD 0.87; 95% CI, 0.48-1.27; I2: 92%; low-level evidence). Among them, 10 studies revealed a greater QoR-40 score at postoperative 24 h in the OFA than in the OBA (MD 6.59; 95% CI, 2.84-10.34; I2: 93%; moderate-level evidence), which exceeded the minimal clinically important difference of 6.3. Conversely, the synthetic data of 4 studies did not reveal an improvement in the global QoR-15 score at postoperative 24 h (MD 9.94; 95% CI, -0.15 to 12.35; I2: 97%; low-level evidence). Regarding different domains of scale, OFA had positive effects on physical comfort (SMD 0.75; 95% CI, 0.25-1.25; I2: 93%; moderate-level evidence) and pain (SMD 0.59; 95% CI, 0.15-1.03; I2: 91%; moderate-level evidence).

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analysis indicate OFA can improve the quality of recovery at postoperative 24 h, particularly in terms of enhancing physical comfort and reducing pain. However, due to significant heterogeneity and moderate-to-low level of evidence, the external validity of OFA for improving postoperative recovery remains to be further validated.

REGISTRATION

The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database on December 07, 2023 (CRD42023486235).

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.

Impact of intravenous steroids on subjective recovery quality after surgery: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Quality of postoperative recovery is a crucial aspect of perioperative care. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous steroids in improving the quality of recovery (QoR) after surgery, as measured by validated QoR scales.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

SETTING

Operating room.

INTERVENTION

The use of a single dose of intravenous steroids as a supplement to general anesthesia.

PATIENTS

Adult patients undergoing surgery.

MEASUREMENTS

A literature search was conducted using electronic databases (e.g., MEDLINE and Embase) from their inception to June 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intravenous steroids with placebo or no treatment in adult patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia were included. The primary outcome was the QoR scores on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 2-3, as assessed by validated QoR scales (QoR-15 and QoR-40). Secondary outcomes included QoR dimensions, analgesic rescue, pain scores, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

MAIN RESULTS

Eleven RCTs involving 951 patients were included in this study. The steroid group showed significant improvements in global QoR scores on POD 1 (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.52; 95 % confidence interval[CI]: 0.22 to 0.82; P = 0.0007) and POD 2-3 (SMD: 0.50; 95 % CI: 0.19 to 0.81; P = 0.001) compared to the control group. Significant improvements were also observed in all QoR dimensions on POD 1, with the effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. Intravenous steroids also significantly reduced the analgesic rescue requirements (RR: 0.77; 95 % CI: 0.67 to 0.88; P = 0.0003), postoperative pain scores (SMD: -0.41; 95 % CI: -0.68 to -0.14; P = 0.003), and PONV incidence (RR: 0.73; 95 % CI: 0.56 to 0.95; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous administration of steroids significantly improved QoR after surgery. The benefits of steroids extend to all dimensions of QoR and important clinical outcomes such as analgesic requirements, pain scores, and PONV. These findings support the use of steroids as an effective strategy to enhance the postoperative recovery quality.

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

BACKGROUND

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSION

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

A neural perspective on the treatment of hypertension: the neurological network excitation and inhibition (E/I) imbalance in hypertension

Despite the increasing number of anti-hypertensive drugs have been developed and used in the clinical setting, persistent deficiencies persist, including issues such as lifelong dosage, combination therapy. Notwithstanding receiving the treatment under enduring these deficiencies, approximately 4 in 5 patients still fail to achieve reliable blood pressure (BP) control. The application of neuromodulation in the context of hypertension presents a pioneering strategy for addressing this condition, con-currently implying a potential central nervous mechanism underlying hypertension onset. We hypothesize that neurological networks, an essential component of maintaining appropriate neurological function, are involved in hypertension. Drawing on both peer-reviewed research and our laboratory investigations, we endeavor to investigate the underlying neural mechanisms involved in hypertension by identifying a close relationship between its onset of hypertension and an excitation and inhibition (E/I) imbalance. In addition to the involvement of excitatory glutamatergic and GABAergic inhibitory system, the pathogenesis of hypertension is also associated with Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs, Nav)-mediated E/I balance. The overloading of glutamate or enhancement of glutamate receptors may be attributed to the E/I imbalance, ultimately triggering hypertension. GABA loss and GABA receptor dysfunction have also proven to be involved. Furthermore, we have identified that abnormalities in sodium channel expression and function alter neural excitability, thereby disturbing E/I balance and potentially serving as a mechanism underlying hypertension. These insights are expected to furnish potential strategies for the advancement of innovative anti-hypertensive therapies and a meaningful reference for the exploration of central nervous system (CNS) targets of anti-hypertensives.

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

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

The effect of continuous bilateral parasternal block with lidocaine on patient-controlled analgesia opioid requirement and recovery after open heart surgery: a double-blind randomised controlled trial

Background

We hypothesised that a continuous 72-h bilateral parasternal infusion of lidocaine at 2×35 mg h-1 would decrease pain and the inflammatory response after sternotomy for open heart surgery, subsequently improving quality of recovery.

Methods

We randomly allocated 45 participants to a 72-h bilateral parasternal infusion of lidocaine or saline commencing after wound closure. The primary outcome was the cumulative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) morphine consumption at 72 h. Secondary outcomes included total morphine requirement, pain, peak expiratory flow, and serum interleukin-6 concentration. In addition, we used an eHealth platform for a 3-month follow-up of pain, analgesic use, and Quality of Recovery-15 scores.

Results

The 72-h PCA morphine requirement was significantly lower in the lidocaine than the saline group (10 mg [inter-quartile range: 5-19 mg] and 28.2 mg [inter-quartile range: 16-42.5 mg], respectively; P=0.014). The total morphine requirement (including morphine administered before the start of PCA) was significantly lower at 24, 48, and 72 h. Pain was well controlled with no difference in pain scores between treatment groups. The peak expiratory flow was lower in the lidocaine group at 72 h. Interleukin-6 concentrations showed no difference at 24, 48, or 72 h. Quality of Recovery-15 scores did not differ between treatment groups at any time during the 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions

After sternotomy for open heart surgery, a 72-h bilateral parasternal lidocaine infusion significantly decreased PCA and total morphine requirement. However, neither signs of decreased inflammatory response nor an improvement in recovery was seen.

Clinical trial registration

EudraCT number 2018-004672-35.

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

BACKGROUND

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW PROTOCOL

PROSPERO (CRD42023477580).

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.

Analgesic efficacy of systemic lidocaine using lean body mass based dosing regime versus placebo in bariatric surgery: a prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single centre study

BACKGROUND

Intravenous lidocaine is used as an adjuvant analgesic agent in perioperative settings. It has been investigated in various patient populations and surgical interventions, but there are limited data on its efficacy, particularly for patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Obese patients are at high risk of postoperative respiratory complications and can be expected to benefit from anaesthetic techniques that minimise opioid administration.

METHODS

We studied administration of lidocaine hydrochloride 1% i.v. to general anaesthesia at a dose of 1.5 mg kg^-1 (lean body mass×1.28) or placebo in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Subjects randomly assigned to each group were surveyed for 48 h after surgery for experienced pain (primary outcome), and administered opioids, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), resumption of bowel function, and length of hospital stay (secondary outcomes).

RESULTS

We recruited and randomised 140 subjects to either the lidocaine or placebo group; 137 completed the study. Subjects with pain numeric rating scale (NRS) >3 within the first 4 h postoperatively were similar in both groups (proportion of any NRS >3 within first 4 h lidocaine group: 47/68 (69%) vs placebo group: 44/69 (63%), P=0.507; within first h P=0.177, within second h P=0.513, within third h P=0.145, within fourth h P=0.510). There was no difference in maximal pain score, opioid consumption, recovery of bowel function, incidence of PONV, or length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Lidocaine does not improve postoperative pain scores, analgesia, or any secondary outcomes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03667001.

Efficacy of electrical cranial stimulation for treatment of psychiatric symptoms in patients with anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Therapeutic effects of electrical cranial stimulation (CES) in patients suffering from anxiety remained unclear. This meta-analysis aimed at investigating acceptability and therapeutic efficacy of CES against anxiety, depression, and insomnia for patients who experienced symptoms of anxiety.

Methods

Major electronic databases were searched from inception until December 10, 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCT) focusing on therapeutic effectiveness of CES in patients whose primary complaints included anxiety. Effect sizes (ES) for different treatment outcomes were estimated by using generic inverse variance method.

Results

Eight RCTs were identified including a total of 337 participants. The therapeutic effectiveness of CES was significantly better than that in the control groups for anxiety (ES=-0.96, p <0.00001, eight trials, 337 patients), depression (ES=-0.69, p=0.003, five trials), and insomnia (ES=-1.02, p = 0.0006, three trials) in those who presented with symptoms of anxiety. Subgroup analyses found that CES was equally effective regardless of comorbid presentation of depressive symptoms (ES=-0.94 in patients with anxiety only vs. ES=-1.06 in those with depression and anxiety) and whether CES was used as monotherapy or add-on therapy to medications (ES = -0.88 vs. ES = -1.12, respectively). Moreover, subgroup analysis of RCTs using the same device "Alpha-Stim" for CES was more effective in alleviating anxiety than sham controls (ES = -0.88, p < 0.00001, four trials, 230 patients). Regarding acceptability, the use of CES did not increase the risk of treatment-related dropout compared to the control group (RR = 1.26, p = 0.57, I² = 0%, four trials, 324 patients).

Conclusion

Our study supported the use of CES for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in those suffering from anxiety with fair acceptability and demonstrated the efficacy of "Alpha-Stim", the most commonly used device for CES, in this patient population.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42022382619.

Impact of parental rheumatoid arthritis on risk of autism spectrum disorders in offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To investigate the association of risk of offspring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with both maternal and paternal rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

The Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies that investigated the association of parental RA with risk of offspring ASD. The primary outcome was the associations of maternal/paternal RA with the risk of offspring ASD. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the timing of maternal RA diagnosis (i.e., before/after childbirth) and geographical location (i.e., Western vs. Asian countries) of studies.

RESULTS

Ten studies published between 2005 and 2022 involving 6,177,650 participants were analyzed. Pooled results revealed a significant association between maternal RA and the risk of ASD (OR = 1.246, p < 0.001, 10 studies), while there was no association of paternal RA with the risk of offspring ASD (OR = 1.104, p = 0.253, four studies). Subgroup analysis demonstrated no correlation between diagnosis of maternal RA before childbirth and the risk of offspring ASD (OR = 1.449, p = 0.192, four studies), while there was a significant association of maternal RA regardless of the timing of diagnosis with the risk of offspring ASD (OR = 1.227, p = 0.001, six studies). Subgroup analysis on geographical location showed a significant association of maternal RA with the risk of offspring ASD regardless of the study location (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings supported an association between maternal RA and an elevated risk of ASD in offspring. However, given the limited numbers of studies investigating the risk of offspring ASD in mothers diagnosed with RA before childbirth, further studies are warranted to elucidate this issue.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

[www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022358470].

Efficacy of laryngeal mask airway against postoperative pharyngolaryngeal complications following thyroid surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

This meta-analysis aimed at investigating the effectiveness of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) against postoperative pharyngolaryngeal complications after thyroidectomy. MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, google scholar, and EMBASE databases were searched from inception through February, 2021, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the incidence of pharyngolaryngeal complications following the use of LMA or endotracheal tube (ETT). Pooled results from seven RCTs involving 600 patients showed an association of LMA with a reduced risk of postoperative sore throat (POST) at 24 h [risk ratio (RR) 0.75, p = 0.006, four trials], but not at 1 h and 48 h after thyroidectomy. POST severity and hoarseness risk were lower in the LMA group than the ETT group at 1 h, 24 h, and 48 h (all p < 0.05). Nevertheless, hoarseness severity was lower in the LMA group only at postsurgical 48 h [standardized mean difference = - 0.35, p = 0.008, three trials]. Moreover, the risk of emergence cough was lower in patients using LMA than those receiving ETT (RR = 0.14, p = 0.002, two trials). The two groups did not differ in the severity of dysphagia at postoperative 1 h, 24 h, and 48 h. This meta-analysis showed that LMA may be associated with fewer pharyngolaryngeal complications compared to ETT without airway impacts. The limited number of included studies warrants further research to support our findings.

Effect of Systemic Lidocaine on Postoperative Early Recovery Quality in Patients Undergoing Supratentorial Tumor Resection

Purpose

Lidocaine has been gradually used in general anesthesia. This study was designed to investigate the effect of systemic lidocaine on postoperative quality of recovery (QoR) in patients undergoing supratentorial tumor resection, and to explore its brain-injury alleviation effect in neurosurgical anesthesia.

Patients and Methods

Sixty adult patients undergoing elective supratentorial tumor resection. Patients were randomly assigned either to receive lidocaine (Group L: 1.5 mg/kg bolus completed 10 min before anesthesia induction followed by an infusion at 2.0 mg/kg/h) or to receive normal saline (Group C: received volume-matched normal saline at the same infusion rate). Primary outcome measures were Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) scores on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 2. Plasma concentrations of S100B protein (S100B), neuron specific enolase (NSE), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) before anesthesia induction and at the end of surgery were assessed. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were assessed at 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery. Perioperative parameters and adverse events were also recorded.

Results

Patients between two groups had comparable baseline characteristics. Global QoR-40 scores on POD 1 and POD 2 were significantly higher (P <0.001) in group L (165.5±3.8 vs 173.7±4.7) than those in group C (155.6±4.0 vs 163.2±4.5); and scores of physical comfort, emotional state, and pain in group L were superior to those in group C (P <0.05). In group L, patients possessed lower plasma concentration of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α) and brain injury-related factors (S100B, NSE) (P <0.05), consumed less remifentanil and propofol, and experienced lower pain intensity. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated age and pain were correlated with postperative recovery quality.

Conclusion

Systemic lidocaine improved early recovery quality after supratentorial tumor resection with general anesthesia, and had certain brain-injury alleviation effects. These benefits may be attributed to the inflammation-alleviating and analgesic properties of lidocaine.