Intravenous Paracetamol in Adjunct to Intravenous Ketoprofen for Postoperative Pain in Children Undergoing General Surgery: A Double-Blinded Randomized Study

Pharmacological bases of combining nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and paracetamol

Paracetamol and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly ibuprofen, are frequently administered together. A systematic review of clinical studies using combined or alternating regimes of NSAIDs was performed up to May 2023. Clinical evidence (77 studies) confirms that in many cases efficacy is enhanced by paracetamol + NSAID combinations, but quite a few studies show no added benefit. Synergism is more commonly found with combined regimens in analgesia for surgery, and with alternating regimes in antipyresis. In some instances the advantage may be related to the short duration of the effect of paracetamol. Mechanistically, central and peripheral actions associated with inhibition of cyclooxygenase have been documented for both paracetamol and NSAIDs, which are relevant for analgesia, antipyresis and closure of patent ductus arteriosus in neonates. In addition, paracetamol may achieve analgesia via different central pathways independently of cyclooxygenase. Hence, increased analgesia may result from NSAID and paracetamol acting at least partly via different mechanisms, while enhancement of antipyresis probably is explained simply by augmented or more prolongued inhibition of cyclooxygenase. Because of the inconsistencies found in the available evidence, added benefit should not be assumed for paracetamol/NSAID combinations. In addition, combining paracetamol and NSAIDs may lead to increased dosing errors, and may result in increased toxicity as a result of enhanced cyclooxygenase interference, a possibility that has barely been scrutinized. We conclude that combining paracetamol and NSAIDs may be justified in analgesia, but further studies are warranted to establish when and how an enhanced effect is achieved with this strategy.

Instrument shank-assisted ovariohysterectomy: a randomized clinical trial of surgical and pain alleviation efficiency of a single-person modified technique

Objectives

To evaluate a modified ovariohysterectomy (OHE) technique performed by a single person and compare it with the conventional method based on time efficiency, trauma, and postoperative pain.

Methods

In a prospective, randomized, experimental study, 18 healthy, large, deep-chested, mixed-breed intact female dogs were randomly allocated to conventional (n = 9) and instrument shank-assisted (n = 9) groups. On the basis of video recordings, the various surgical step durations were analyzed: total surgery time (TST), pedicle intervention time (PIT), suspensory release time (SRT), shanking time (ShT), clamping time (ClpT), ligating time (LigT), and closure time (CT). The Glasgow composite pain scale short-form (GCMPS-SF), university of Melbourne pain scale (UMPS), and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) were used to measure pain. C-reactive protein (CRP) fluctuation was also investigated. These evaluations were completed before and 6, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively.

Results

Instrument shank-assisted OHE was less time-consuming than conventional OHE (p = 0.005), improved PIT by 30.7% (6.44 min for both pedicles, p = 0.014), and correlated strongly with TST (ρ = 0.862, p = 0.003 and ρ = 0.955, p = 0.000, respectively). The two method's surgical step durations were also TST = 47.40 ± 9.9 vs. 34.70 ± 6.7 min, PIT = 20.96 ± 5.78 vs. 14.52 ± 3.73 min, SRT = 78.97 ± 69.10 vs. ShT = 20.39 ± 8.18 s (p = 0.035), ClpT = 50.66 ± 45.04 vs. 63.55 ± 37.15 s (p = 0.662), LigT = 12.82 ± 3.37 vs. 8.02 ± 3.11 min (p = 0.005), and CT = 16.40 ± 4.5 vs. 11.60 ± 2.5 min (p = 0.013), respectively. While both techniques inflicted pain on the animals, the novel approach resulted in a reduction of pain at T6 (GCMPS-SF, p = 0.015 and VAS, p = 0.002), T24 (UMPS, p = 0.003), and T48 (GCMPS-SF, p = 0.015 and UMPS, p = 0.050). Both methods exhibited a peak in CRP level after 24 h, which subsequently returned to baseline after 48 h. However, the shank-assisted method demonstrated a significantly lower reduction in CRP level at the 48-h compared to the other group (p = 0.032).

Conclusion

Instrument shank-assisted technique permitted ovarian removal without an assistant, less damage to animals and reducing its time when compared to a conventional technique, and resulting in an alternative that causes less surgical stress and fatigue. Further research with a larger population size is required to determine the serum CRP levels as an alternative pain biomarker.

Comparison of Professionally and Parentally Administered Analgesia Before Emergency Department Admission

BACKGROUND

Pediatric patients frequently present to emergency departments in pain.

AIM

A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of acute pain in children attending the ED and arriving by ambulance, as well as the initial ED management of pain. We describe pediatric pain management practices in the pediatric ED, as well as parental pain relief.

METHOD

Demographic data, medications, and type of transport to hospital were noted. Pain was assessed upon admission and 30 minutes after administration of analgesia. To standardize pain evaluations, only children aged 4 years or older were included in the study. A numeric rating scale was used to assess pain intensity.

RESULTS

The study group consisted of 124 patients. More than 80% of the patients suffered from trauma, injuries to the extremities were the most common cause of admission, and the patient population showed male predominance (62.1%). Over half of the patients (64.51%) were transported by ambulance. Analgesia was administered in 63.5% of the ambulance cases in contrast to only 13.3% of children brought by their parents. Treatment was significantly related to severity of pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Both medical emergency teams and parents administered prehospital analgesia insufficiently and without previous assessment. However, medical emergency teams used medications more often than parents. Analgesic therapy used in the emergency department resulted in significant pain reduction.

Paracetamol versus paracetamol/tramadol in postoperative intertrochanteric fracture: A noninferiority, randomized, controlled, double-blind study

BACKGROUND

One of the most common osteoporotic fractures among the elderly is hip fracture with tramadol frequently being prescribed for these patients. To decrease the risk of falling from tramadol, this study aimed to ascertain the effectiveness of paracetamol compared to paracetamol/tramadol for pain control following hip fixation surgery.

METHOD

This was a noninferiority, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial at a tertiary care hospital. All patients were recruited between February 2020 and March 2022. Patients were randomly assigned to paracetamol alone (Group A) or paracetamol/tramadol (Group B). All patients in both groups followed the same protocol for the first two days after surgery. To ascertain differences in pain control between the two groups, different regimens were followed from postoperative days 3-5. Pain scores were assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS). All patients were asked to complete a satisfaction questionnaire on day 5.

RESULT

A total of 30 patients were randomly allocated into Group A (paracetamol alone) and 30 into Group B (paracetamol + tramadol). The mean pain score for Group A was 5.85 ± 0.52 and 5.35 ± 0.74 for Group B. Mean cumulative doses in Group A were 4.50 ± 1.33 and 4.06 ± 1.18 in Group B. Although the mean satisfaction with pain management was higher in Group B, this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

VAS scores from Group A were slightly higher than Group B. Based on a 2.0-point noninferiority margin of pain, paracetamol alone was not inferior to paracetamol/tramadol in postoperative intertrochanteric fracture.

Intravenous acetaminophen for postoperative pain control after open abdominal and thoracic surgery in pediatric patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Pediatric opioid exposure increases short- and long-term adverse events (AE). The addition of intravenous acetaminophen (IVA) to pediatric pain regimes to may reduce opioids but is not well studied postoperatively. Our objective was to quantify the impact of IVA on postoperative pain, opioid use, and AEs in pediatric patients after major abdominal and thoracic surgery. Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched systematically for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing IVA to other modalities. Five RCTs enrolling 443 patients with an average age of 2.12 years (± 2.81) were included. Trials comparing IVA with opioids to opioids alone were meta-analyzed. Low to very low-quality evidence demonstrated equivalent pain scores between the groups (-0.23, 95% CI -0.88 to 0.40, p 0.47) and a reduction in opioid consumption (-1.95 morphine equivalents/kg/48 h, 95% CI -3.95 to 0.05, p 0.06) and minor AEs (relative risk 0.39, 95% CI 0.11 to 1.43, p 0.15). We conclude that the addition of IVA to opioid-based regimes in pediatric patients may reduce opioid use and minor AEs without increasing postoperative pain. Given the certainty of evidence, further research featuring patient-important outcomes and prolonged follow-up is necessary to confirm these findings.

Review of Intravenous Acetaminophen for Analgesia in the Postoperative Setting

BACKGROUND

Acetaminophen is a non-opioid analgesic commonly utilized for pain control after several types of surgical procedures.

METHODS

This scoping primary literature review provides recommendations for intravenous (IV) acetaminophen use based on type of surgery.

RESULTS

Intravenous acetaminophen has been widely studied for postoperative pain control and has been compared to other agents such as NSAIDs, opioids, oral/rectal acetaminophen, and placebo. Some of the procedures studied include abdominal, gynecologic, orthopedic, neurosurgical, cardiac, renal, and genitourinary surgeries. Results of these studies have been conflicting and largely have not shown consistent clinical benefit.

CONCLUSION

Overall, findings from this review did not support the notion that IV acetaminophen has significant efficacy for postoperative analgesia. Given the limited clinical benefit of IV acetaminophen, especially when compared to the oral or rectal formulations, use is generally not justifiable.

Guidelines for Opioid Prescribing in Children and Adolescents After Surgery: An Expert Panel Opinion

IMPORTANCE

Opioids are frequently prescribed to children and adolescents after surgery. Prescription opioid misuse is associated with high-risk behavior in youth. Evidence-based guidelines for opioid prescribing practices in children are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To assemble a multidisciplinary team of health care experts and leaders in opioid stewardship, review current literature regarding opioid use and risks unique to pediatric populations, and develop a broad framework for evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines for children who require surgery.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

Reviews of relevant literature were performed including all English-language articles published from January 1, 1988, to February 28, 2019, found via searches of the PubMed (MEDLINE), CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Pediatric was defined as children younger than 18 years. Animal and experimental studies, case reports, review articles, and editorials were excluded. Selected articles were graded using tools from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine 2011 levels of evidence. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument was applied throughout guideline creation. Consensus was determined using a modified Delphi technique.

FINDINGS

Overall, 14 574 articles were screened for inclusion, with 217 unique articles included for qualitative synthesis. Twenty guideline statements were generated from a 2-day in-person meeting and subsequently reviewed, edited, and endorsed externally by pediatric surgical specialists, the American Pediatric Surgery Association Board of Governors, the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Surgery Executive Committee, and the American College of Surgeons Board of Regents. Review of the literature and guideline statements underscored 3 primary themes: (1) health care professionals caring for children who require surgery must recognize the risks of opioid misuse associated with prescription opioids, (2) nonopioid analgesic use should be optimized in the perioperative period, and (3) patient and family education regarding perioperative pain management and safe opioid use practices must occur both before and after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These are the first opioid-prescribing guidelines to address the unique needs of children who require surgery. Health care professionals caring for children and adolescents in the perioperative period should optimize pain management and minimize risks associated with opioid use by engaging patients and families in opioid stewardship efforts.