Evidence for the Efficacy of an Opioid-Sparing Effect of Intravenous Acetaminophen in the Surgery Patient: A Systematic Review

The Three W's of Acetaminophen In Children: Who, Why, and Which Administration Mode

Acetaminophen is one of the oldest medications commonly administered in children. Its efficacy in treating fever and pain is well accepted among clinicians. However, the available evidence supporting the use of acetaminophen's different modes of administration remains relatively scarce and poorly known. This short report summarizes the available evidence and provides a framework to guide clinicians regarding a rational use of acetaminophen in children.

Associations of Multimodal Analgesia With Postoperative Pain Trajectories and Morphine Consumption After Hepatic Cancer Surgery

Background

This study aimed to investigate the influential factors of postoperative pain trajectories and morphine consumption after hepatic cancer surgery with a particular interest in multimodal analgesia.

Methods

Patients receiving hepatic cancer surgery at a tertiary medical center were enrolled between 2011 and 2016. Postoperative pain scores and potentially influential factors like patient characteristics and the analgesic used were collected. Latent curve analysis was conducted to investigate predictors of postoperative pain trajectories and a linear regression model was used to explore factors associated with postoperative morphine consumption.

Results

450 patients were collected, the daily pain scores during the first postoperative week ranged from 2.0 to 3.0 on average. Male and higher body weight were associated with more morphine consumption (both P < 0.001) but reduced morphine demand was noted in the elderly (P < 0.001) and standing acetaminophen users (P = 0.003). Longer anesthesia time was associated with higher baseline pain levels (P < 0.001). In contrast, male gender (P < 0.001) and standing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use (P = 0.012) were associated with faster pain resolution over time.

Conclusions

Multimodal analgesia with standing acetaminophen and NSAIDs had benefits of opioid-sparing and faster pain resolution, respectively, to patients receiving hepatic cancer surgery.

Opioid use, misuse, and abuse: a narrative review about interventions to reduce opioid consumption and related adverse events in the perioperative setting

Opioids remain the most potent and predictable drug available for perioperative analgesia and moderate-to-severe cancer-related pain. However, their efficacy has been questioned in other clinical settings. Moreover, opioids are associated with a wide variety of dose-dependent adverse events, limiting their use. The indiscriminate prescription of opioids has fueled the so-called "opioid epidemic" in the United States and other developed countries. Thus, there has been a significant effort to develop strategies to curtail their unnecessary prescription. Here, we summarize the history, current trends, and new directions in perioperative opioid prescription in an unbiased manner.