The Impact of Thoracic Epidural Analgesia Versus Four Quadrant Transversus Abdominis Plane Block on Quality of Recovery After Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Surgery: A Single-Center, Noninferiority, Randomized, Controlled Trial

The impact of the transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) on stress response measured through the complete blood- derived inflammatory markers

This study aims to evaluate the effect of the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on the blood cells and the inflammatory markers neutrophil- to- lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet- to- lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune- inflammation index (SII) after the laparoscopic ovariectomy (LapOV) in dogs. 72 healthy bitches undergoing LapOV were randomly allocated to the no- TAP group of dogs under inhaled anesthesia (IA), the TAP- S group (IA and TAP with saline), and the TAP- B group (IA and TAP with bupivacaine). The NLR, PLR, and SII were calculated 1 h before ovariectomy (T0) and at 2-3 h (T1), 6-8 h (T2), and 20-24 h (T3) post- surgery. The number of dogs requiring postoperative analgesic rescue with buprenorphine and the doses administered in each group were recorded. Significant changes were observed in all groups' postoperative NLR, PLR, and SII over time. Between groups, no differences were observed in any of the ratios at any control point (NLR at T0-T3: p = 0.17, 0.36, 0.80, and 0.95; PLR at T0-T3: p = 0.70, 0.62, 0.21, 0.87; SII at T0-T3: p = 0.29, 0.65, 0.09, and 0.34). A significantly lower number of dogs required analgesic rescue in the TAP-B group (p = 0.0001) and a lower number of doses were administered (p = 0.001). There is no difference in the inflammatory response measured through the complete blood- derived inflammatory markers after the LapOV in dogs when the postoperative pain is managed entirely with opioids or with the TAP block with bupivacaine. The hydrodissection associated with the TAP block technique does not increase the inflammatory response.

Analgesic effects of combined transversus abdominis plane block and intramuscular electrical stimulation in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of a four-quadrant transversus abdominis plane (4QTAP) block and a combination of 4QTAP block with needle electrical twitch and intramuscular electrical stimulation (NETOIMS) in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-one patients who underwent CRS followed by HIPEC were included in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group 1 (intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, control group), group 2 (preoperative 4QTAP block), and group 3 (preoperative 4QTAP block and postoperative NETOIMS). The primary study endpoint was the pain score assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS: 0, no pain; 10, worst imaginable pain) on postoperative day (POD) 1.

RESULTS

The VAS pain score on POD 1 was significantly lower in group 2 than in group 1 (6.0±1.7 and 7.6±1.9, P =0.004), whereas that in group 3 was significantly lower than that in groups 1 and 2 ( P <0.001 and P =0.004, respectively). Opioid consumption and nausea and vomiting incidence during POD 7 were significantly lower in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. Gait speed and peak cough flow on POD 4 and 7, as well as the quality of recovery (QoR)-40 score on POD 4, were significantly higher in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of a 4QTAP block with NETOIMS provided more effective analgesia than a 4QTAP block alone after CRS, followed by HIPEC, and enhanced functional restoration and quality of recovery.

Transverse abdominis plane block compared with patient-controlled epidural analgesia following abdominal surgery: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block are used for pain control after abdominal surgery. Although there have been several meta-analyses comparing these two techniques, the conclusion was limited by a small number of studies and heterogeneity among studies. Our meta-analysis used the Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane central library databases from their inception through September 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing TEA and TAP block were included. The pre-specified primary outcome was the pain score at rest at 12 h postoperatively. Twenty-two RCTs involving 1975 patients were included. Pooled analyses showed the pain score at rest at 12 h postoperatively was significantly different between groups favoring TEA group (Mean difference [MD] 0.58, 95% confidence interval CI - 0.01, 1.15, P = 0.04, I² = 94%). TEA group significantly reduced the pain score at 48 h at rest (MD 0.59, 95% CI 0.15, 1.03, P = 0.009, I² = 86%) and at 48 h at movement (MD 0.53, 95% CI 0.07, 0.99, P = 0.03, I² = 76%). However, there was no significant difference at other time points. Time to ambulation was shorter in TAP block but the incidence of hypotension at 24 h and 72 h was significantly lower in TAP block compared to TEA. Trial sequential analysis showed that the required information size has not yet been reached. Our meta-analysis demonstrated there was no significant or clinically meaningful difference in the postoperative pain scores between TEA and TAP block group. Given the insufficient information size revealed by TSA, the high risk of bias of our included studies, and the significant heterogeneity of our meta-analysis results, our results should be interpreted carefully but it is not likely that the addition of further studies could prove any clinically meaningful difference in pain score between these two techniques.

Erector Spinae Plane Catheters for Analgesia for Cytoreduction Surgery With Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: A Case Series

Cytoreduction surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a complex and painful procedure that can cause postoperative hypotension and coagulopathy. Epidural analgesia may worsen hypotension and is contraindicated in the setting of coagulopathy. While alternative regional techniques are being explored, the use of erector spinae plane blocks has not been reported. We present a case series of 6 patients who had erector spinae plane catheters for cytoreduction surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. They remained stable intraoperatively and had adequate pain control postoperatively. Erector spinae plane catheters may be a suitable alternative for epidural analgesia for these patients.

Analgesic effects of ultrasound-guided four-quadrant transabdominal plane block in patients with cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: a prospective, randomized, controlled study

Background

Postoperative pain occurring after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is difficult to control because of extensive surgical injuries and long incisions. We assessed whether the addition of a four-quadrant transabdominal plane (4Q-TAP) block could help in analgesic control.

Methods

Seventy-two patients scheduled to undergo elective CRS with HIPEC and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) were enrolled. The patients received 4Q-TAP blocks in a 10 ml mixture of 2% lidocaine and 0.75% ropivacaine per site (4Q-TAP group, n = 36) or normal saline (control group, n = 33). Oxycodone in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and pethidine or tramadol in the ward were used as rescue analgesics. The primary outcome was less than 3 times of rescue analgesic administration (%) in the ward for 5 postoperative days. Secondary endpoints included oxycodone requirement in PACU, fentanyl doses of IV PCA, morphine milligram equivalent (MME) of total opioid use, hospital stay, and postoperative complications.

Results

During 5 postoperative days, there was no difference in pain scores and total rescue analgesic administration between two groups. However, the use of oxycodone in PACU (P = 0.011), fentanyl requirement in IV PCA (P = 0.029), and MME/kg of total opioid use (median, 2.35 vs. 3.21 mg/kg, P = 0.009) were significantly smaller in the 4Q-TAP group. Hospital stay and incidence of postoperative morbidity were similar in both groups.

Conclusions

The 4Q-TAP block enhanced multimodal analgesia and decreased opioid requirements in patients with CRS with HIPEC, but did not change postoperative recovery outcomes.

Risk of Intraoperative Hyperthermia and Outcomes in Adults Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)

BACKGROUND

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is commonly used to treat peritoneal surface malignancies. We aimed to identify risk factors of intraoperative patient hyperthermia and the postoperative outcome of adults undergoing HIPEC PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, IRB approved, single center cohort study was conducted. Adults treated with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC between 2006 and 2021 were included. The primary outcome was bladder hyperthermia during perfusion, stratified by severity and duration. Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications and recurrence-free (RFS) and overall (OS) survival. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit to estimate the effects of important covariates.

RESULTS

Out of 214 patients, 114 had mild hyperthermia (≥ 38 °C) at any time, and in 73 of these it lasted for ≥ 30 min. Independent prognostic factors of mild hyperthermia ≥ 30 min were age (OR = 0.958, 95% CI 0.933-0.984), body mas index (BMI; OR = 0.959 95% CI 0.917-1.002), gender (OR = 0.199, 95% CI 0.092-0.431), and type of chemotherapy [cisplatin versus mitomycin (OR = 0.186, 95% CI 0.070-0.491; oxaliplatin versus mitomycin (OR = 0.430, 95% CI 0.163-1.139)]. Prognostic factors of moderate-to-severe hyperthermia (≥ 39 °C) at any time were perfusion duration (OR = 1.094, 95% CI 1.018-1.177) and blood transfusion (OR = 5.689, 95% CI 1.784-18.137). Intraoperative hyperthermia was not associated with increased postoperative complications but was associated with better RFS and OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates age, gender, BMI, and chemotherapy type to be associated with hyperthermia ≥ 38 °C for ≥ 30 min, whereas longer perfusion time and blood transfusion were associated with hyperthermia ≥ 39 °C. Mild hyperthermia at the end of perfusion is associated with better RFS and OS.