Tracheal lesion during shoulder surgery: a case report and systemic review of the literature

Pneumomediastinum (PNM) and pneumothorax (PNX) are documented complications of arthroscopic shoulder surgery (ATS). Plexus anesthetic block and tracheal lesions during endotracheal intubation are hypothesized to be the underlying risk factors; however, the actual evidence supporting this hypothesis is scarce.A case of bilateral laterocervical emphysema, subcutaneous edema, and signs of PNM after ATS performed under general anesthesia and supra-scapular nerve block is presented. An up-to-date systematic review of PNM/PNX during orthopedic surgery was performed, involving six databases: PubMed (1996-present), Embase (1974-present), Scopus (2004-present), SpringerLink (1950-present), Ovid Emcare (1995-present), and Google Scholar (2004-present).Twenty-five case studies met the eligibility criteria. In 24 cases, the patient underwent general anesthesia and orotracheal intubation; in 9 of these, a plexus anesthetic block was also performed. One case involved ATS under plexus anesthetic block only. In 10 cases, the diagnostic finding was PNM. In 5 cases, the diagnostic finding was associated with PNX. PNX was detected in 17 cases. In 2 cases, SE was found in the absence of any evidence of either PNM or PNX. A tracheal lesion was identified in 3 cases.Endotracheal intubation and loco-regional anesthesia are not the only predisposing risk factors at play in the pathogenesis of PNM/PNX. Rather, multi-factorial pathogenesis seems more probable, necessitating that specific attention is paid during ATS to the change in patient position on the operating bed, to any slipping of the endotracheal tube, to patient monitoring whilst under the drapes, and to the cuff pressure. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021260370.

Which regional anesthesia technique is the best for arthroscopic shoulder surgery in terms of postoperative outcomes? A comprehensive literature review

OBJECTIVE

The literature offers numerous reviews and meta-analyses assessing the different regional anesthesia techniques employed for arthroscopic shoulder surgery (ATS) in terms of diverse outcome parameters. Most have focused on analgesic efficacy in the limited post-operative period as their primary outcome. Indeed, the most up-to-date guidelines are based on the results of comparisons that focus on analgesic efficacy and analgesic drug consumption. However, a correlation has yet to be demonstrated between post-operative analgesia and functional recovery; indeed, the latter has received relatively less research attention concerning the anesthetic technique despite its clinical importance. Here, we aimed to identify the best loco-regional anesthetic technique for ATS, considering all the evaluation parameters considered to date.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a comprehensive literature review on ATS, searching for all the relative aspects of the regional anesthesia technique employed and the outcome parameters assessed.

RESULTS

From the literature, it is not clear which technique is better than the others. No single technique was revealed as being the absolute best, independent of the outcome parameter considered, which included: post-operative analgesic effect, speed of functional recovery, ease, and safety of execution.

CONCLUSIONS

The choice of anesthetic technique should be tailored to the patient and type of surgery. When comparing one type of loco-regional anesthesia against another, in addition to analgesic efficacy, a whole plethora of aspects need to be considered (i.e., feasibility, complications, contribution to functional recovery, etc.).

Patient-reported pain and other symptoms among breast cancer survivors: prevalence and risk factors

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with chronic pain and other symptoms related to breast cancer 6 months after surgery.

METHODS

In an observational study of 261 female breast cancer survivors treated between January 2017 and January 2018, patients were asked about their pain symptoms using a questionnaire that utilized the Numeric Rating Score (NRS) and the Douleur Neuropathique Score (DN4) for neuropathic pain; it also addressed phantom sensations and functional disorders on the ipsilateral shoulder. A total of 218 women completed the survey.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients (48.17%) reported chronic pain. Of these, 64% rated the pain with an NRS of 1-3 and 35% with an NRS >3. Neuropathic pain was reported in 65% of the sample, phantom sensations in 12%, disorders of shoulder function in 16%, and web syndrome in 2%. Multivariable analyses showed that chronic pain (odds ratio [OR], 2.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.094-5.942; p < 0.05) and neuropathic pain (OR, 2.988; 95% CI, 1.366-6.537; p < 0.05) were positively associated with surgical adverse events; phantom sensations were statistically associated with the weight of removed breast tissue (OR, 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001-1.005; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the need to employ specific tools capable of detecting different kinds of chronic pain after breast cancer surgery to improve pain prevention and treatment. Surgical complications and the weight of removed breast tissue emerged as 2 of the risk factors for chronic and neuropathic pain development in breast cancer survivors.

Interscalenic versus suprascapular nerve block: can the type of block influence short- and long-term outcomes? An observational study

BACKGROUND

While interscalenic nerve block (INB) is still considered the gold standard for shoulder arthroscopy, its postoperative analgesic effectiveness has recently been called into question. Meanwhile, in light of its high-quality postoperative pain relief, a renewed interest has emerged in suprascapular nerve block (SNB). The first aim of our study was to compare the postoperative analgesia effects of these two types of block at two, four and six hours after surgery. We also assessed shoulder functional recovery over a 6-month follow-up period.

METHODS

All patients requiring arthroscopic shoulder surgery for rotator cuff repair during the study period were enrolled. INB or SNB was performed under ultrasound guidance. The patients underwent general anaesthesia. Numerical rate scores (NRS) at rest and in motion at two, four and six postoperative hours were recorded.

RESULTS

Over two years, 280 patients were screened. Of these, 136 were excluded. Pain scores after surgery were lower at two hours in INB at rest (0.70±1.50 versus 2.1±2.2; P<0.0067) and after movement (1.0±2.2 versus 2.5±2.3; P=0.01). A significant difference in terms of arm extrarotation degrees at week 6 and month 2 (P<0.01) in SNB was found.

CONCLUSIONS

INB showed better analgesic efficacy in the immediate postoperative period. Both types of block showed similar results in terms of functional recovery over the six-month follow-up. SNB without motor block seems matched better with ambulatory surgery and with an early rehabilitation program.

Prediction of early postoperative major cardiac events after elective orthopedic surgery: the role of B-type natriuretic peptide, the revised cardiac risk index, and ASA class

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate pre- and post-operative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and compare the power of this test in predicting in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE: atrial fibrillation, flutter, acute heart failure or non-fatal/fatal myocardial infarction) in patients undergoing elective prosthesis orthopedic surgery to that of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) and American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) class, the most useful scores identified to date.

METHODS

The study was an observational study of consecutive patients undergoing elective prosthesis orthopedic surgery. Surgical risk was established using RCRI score and ASA class criteria. Venous blood was sampled before surgery and on postoperative day 1 for the measurement of BNP. The intraoperative data collected included details of the surgery and anesthesia and any MACE experienced up until hospital discharge.

RESULTS

MACE occurred in 14 of the 227 patients treated (6.2%). Age was statistical associated with MACE (p < 0.004). Preoperative BNP levels were higher (p < 0.0007) in patients who experienced MACE than in event-free patients (median values: 92 and 35 pg/mL, respectively). Postoperative BNP levels were also greater (p < 0.0001) in patients sustaining MACE than in event-free patients (median values: 165 and 45 pg/mL, respectively). ROC curve analysis demonstrated that for a cut-off point ≥ 39 pg/mL, the area under the curve for preoperative BNP was equal to 0.77, while a postoperative BNP cut-off point ≥ 69 pg/mL gave an AUC of 0.82.

CONCLUSIONS

Both pre- and post-operative BNP concentrations are predictors of MACE in patients undergoing elective prosthesis orthopedic surgery.

Pain relief after total hip replacement: oral CR oxycodone plus IV paracetamol versus epidural levobupivacaine and sufentanil. A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

We tested the hypothesis that pain relief after total hip replacement (THR) can be obtained with a multimodal approach using oral controlled release (CR) oxycodone plus IV paracetamol.

METHODS

Two hundred and sixty patients undergoing THR were randomized into two groups. A group of 130 patients (EPI) under epidural anesthesia followed by continuous infusion of levobupivacaine 0.125% and sufentanil 0.7 mcg/mL at 7 mL/h was compared with a group (OXY) of 130 patients under spinal anesthesia and oral CR oxycodone 10 mg/q12h plus IV paracetamol 1g/q6h. Pain intensity at rest and dynamic by visual analogue scores (VAS), rescue dose consumption and side effects of three postoperative days (POD) were collected and analyzed with Mann-Withney test (P<0.05 was considered significant).

RESULTS

VAS values at rest were similar in both groups at POD#1, significantly lower in the OXY group either at POD#2 (P=0.018) and POD#3 (P=0.001). Dynamic VAS values were significantly lower in the EPI group at POD#1 (P=0.001), similar for both groups at POD#2 and significantly lower in the OXY group at POD#3 (P=0.026) than the comparing group. Rescue dose consumption was significantly lower in the EPI group during the POD#1 (P=0.009), similar for both groups at POD#2 and higher in the EPI at POD#3 (P=0.008). The incidence of vomiting was similar for the two groups. Nausea was more frequent in the OXY group at POD#3 and more hypotension events occurred in the OXY group at POD#2.

CONCLUSION

Oral CR oxycodone plus IV paracetamol was as effective as epidural levobupivacaine and sufentanil for postoperative pain relief after THR.

Is an institution-wide programme able to reduce the in-patients' experiences of pain in a high specialization hospital?

The study examines the implication of an institution-wide programme on pain management in reducing the patients' perception of the pain carried out in a university hospital by comparing the results of two surveys conducted in 2002 (prior to the programme) and in 2003 (during the course of the programme). The study was conducted in November 2003 and it consisted in a priority survey on the patients' pain perception using a questionnaire which was distributed to all the patients admitted in a highly specialised hospital and interviewed by trained interviewers. Later on the data were compared to the results obtained with a similar survey carried out in November 2002 in the same hospital. In 2002 the percentage of patients reporting pain at the moment of the interview was 43.4% (82/145), in the year 2003 it was 35.3% (49/139) [OR = 2.4, CI (95%) = 1.4-4.0, p < 0.001]. With regards to the pain reported in the previous 24 hrs, there was a reduction in the percentage of patients experiencing pain from 69.0% in 2002 (100/145) to 42.4% in 2003 (59/139) [OR = 3.0, CI (95%) = 1.8-5.0, p < 0.001]. Our hospital wide program succeeded in reducing pain in patients, improving professional quality and creating customer satisfaction in a hospital.

Neuraxial blocks and anticoagulant therapy

Spinal and peridural anaesthesia has several advantages over general anaesthesia due to their low influence to endocrine and metabolic activity and their capacity to reduce postoperative surgical complications, intraoperative bleeding and deep venous thromboembolism incidence. Nevertheless, these anaesthesiologic techniques have a high risk of severe neurological events in patients treated with anticoagulant therapies and prophylaxis. However, this complication is rarely found in literature. It must be considered that spontaneous haematomas are possible, and these are independent of neuraxial blocks but associated to intrinsic factors or concomitant therapies. Anaesthetists must know the use and pharmacological properties of anticoagulant drugs in order to be able of giving up or modifying them during perioperative time, evaluating the risk of bleeding episodes and thrombotic events. An analysis of the literature has been made in order to establish favourable conditions, risk factors, international guide-lines and the real incidence of haemorrhagic complications associated to central blocks in patients being treated with drugs that modify their coagulative status. The survey of the literature and the international guide-lines shows that neuraxial anaesthesia should be performed in selected patients, respecting the free intervals of anticoagulant drugs, carrying out a correct postoperative neurological monitoring and evaluating, case by case, the risks and benefits of the procedure.