Permissive Hypotension in Rhinoplasty: A Literature Review of Therapeutics and Associated Outcomes

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Permissive hypotension, defined as mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 60-70 mm Hg, has been regarded as favorable among surgeons performing rhinoplasty. Furthermore, management of blood pressure has been shown to promote greater visualization of the surgical field and decrease postoperative complications, such as ecchymosis and edema. While multiple therapies have been utilized to achieve permissive hypotension, it remains unclear how modalities compare in terms of safety and efficacy. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to better understand the specific modalities and associated outcomes in managing blood pressure during rhinoplasty.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted in order to identify and assess therapeutics utilized in achieving permissive hypotension during rhinoplasty. Variables collected included year of publication, journal, article title, organization of study, patient sample, treatment modality, associated outcomes (i.e., intraoperative bleeding, edema, and ecchymosis), adverse events, complications, and satisfaction. Articles were then categorized by the level of evidence as set forth by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Any conflicts were resolved through discussion and full-text review among co-authors. Of note, the search was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. No funding was required to conduct this review of the literature.

RESULTS

Initial review yielded sixty-five articles. Title and abstract review followed by standardized application of inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in a total of ten studies for analysis. Articles discussed multiple therapies for management of blood pressure during rhinoplasty, including dexmedetomidine, dexamethasone, gabapentin, labetalol, nitroglycerine, remifentanil, magnesium sulfate, clonidine, and metoprolol. Overall, intraoperative bleeding, as well as postoperative ecchymosis and edema were reduced when MAP was controlled.

CONCLUSION

Given its intra- and postoperative benefits, permissive hypotension can be leveraged to improve outcomes in rhinoplasty. This study presents an updated comprehensive review of various modalities used to achieve permission hypotension in rhinoplasty. Future studies should explore how comorbidities may impact choice of treatment regimen among patients undergoing rhinoplasty.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Effect of Throat Pack Placement on the Incidence of Sore Throat and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Septorhinoplasty Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques have led to a growing interest in performing procedures at ambulatory surgery centers. However, procedures involving the oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal region may lead to the ingestion of blood, which can lead to postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). To date, limited studies have largely failed to demonstrate the benefits of oropharyngeal throat packing.

OBJECTIVES

The authors aimed to investigate whether throat packing during elective septorhinoplasty increases the incidence of postoperative throat pain and assess its effects on PONV.

METHODS

A randomized, prospective, single-blinded study was performed on 101 patients undergoing elective septorhinoplasty who received oropharyngeal throat packing vs no packing to compare the incidence of PONV and throat pain in the immediate postoperative period in addition to postoperative day (POD) 1 and 2.

RESULTS

The incidence and severity of postoperative throat pain were significantly greater in patients receiving throat packs in the immediate postoperative period and on POD 1. Significant differences in throat pain and incidence between the 2 groups diminished by POD 2. Patients having received throat packs also demonstrated a higher utilization of opioids in postanesthesia care unit. The incidence of PONV did not significantly differ between the 2 cohorts at any point of observations.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study largely agree with previous data that throat packs may contribute to postoperative throat pain while not significantly altering the incidence of PONV. Considering these data, we do not recommend routine utilization of throat packing during elective septorhinoplasty.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2

Post-dural puncture headache following lumbar spinal drain: an atypical presentation with cognitive symptoms

Post‐dural puncture headache is a consequence of cerebrospinal fluid loss, leading to reduced intracranial pressure. Its classical symptoms include a frontal‐occipital headache which is worse on standing, neck stiffness, nausea, hearing loss and photophobia. In this report, we describe an atypical presentation of post‐dural puncture headache in a 72‐year‐old woman following an endovascular repair of an aortic aneurysm, before which a lumbar spinal drain was placed to reduce the risk of spinal cord ischemia. Following drain removal, the patient developed hypoactive delirium, challenges with both depth perception and fine motor skills and a mild headache. An epidural blood patch was performed, which resulted in the complete resolution of her symptoms. This case highlights an atypical presentation of post‐dural puncture headache in an older patient, in whom the major symptoms were cognitive. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage should be considered as a cause of postoperative delirium in patients who have undergone neuraxial anaesthesia.

Randomized controlled trial of a quadratus lumborum block with liposomal bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy

Perioperative pain management is an important consideration in early recovery and patient satisfaction following laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. Transmuscular quadratus lumborum block has been described to reduce pain and opioid usage following several abdominal surgeries. In this prospective single‐blind randomized controlled trial, we compared 52 patients who adhered to our institutional donor nephrectomy Early Recovery After Surgery pathway, which includes a laparoscopic‐guided transversus abdominus plane block, to 40 patients who additionally received a transmuscular quadratus lumborum block with liposomal bupivacaine. Compared to control patients, those who received the block spent longer in the operating room prior to the surgical start (65.4 vs. 51.6 min, P < .001). Both groups had similar total hospital length of stay (33.3 h vs. 34.4 h, P = .61). Pain scores from postoperative days 0–30, number of patients requiring opioids, postoperative nausea, and pain management satisfaction were similar between both groups. Patients who received the block consumed less opioid on postoperative day 1 compared to controls (P = .006). No complications were attributable to the block. The quadratus lumborum block provides a safe pain management adjunct for some patients, and may reduce opioid use in the early postoperative period when combined with our standard institutional protocol for kidney donors.

Intralipid prevents and rescues fatal pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular failure in rats

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling leading to right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy and failure. Intralipid (ILP), a source of parenteral nutrition for patients, contains γ-linolenic acid and soy-derived phytoestrogens that are protective for lungs and heart. We, therefore, investigated the therapeutic potential of ILP in preventing and rescuing monocrotaline-induced PAH and RV dysfunction. PAH was induced in male rats with monocrotaline (60 mg/kg). Rats then received daily ILP (1 mL of 20% ILP per day IP) from day 1 to day 30 for prevention protocol or from day 21 to day 30 for rescue protocol. Other monocrotaline-injected rats were left untreated to develop severe PAH by day 21 or RV failure by approximately day 30. Saline or ILP-treated rats served as controls. Significant increase in RV pressure and decrease in RV ejection fraction in the RV failure group resulted in high mortality. Therapy with ILP resulted in 100% survival and prevented PAH-induced RV failure by preserving RV pressure and RV ejection fraction and preventing RV hypertrophy and lung remodeling. In preexisting severe PAH, ILP attenuated most lung and RV abnormalities. The beneficial effects of ILP in PAH seem to result from the interplay of various factors, among which preservation and/or stimulation of angiogenesis, suppression and/or reversal of inflammation, fibrosis and hypertrophy, in both lung and RV, appear to be major contributors. In conclusion, ILP not only prevents the development of PAH and RV failure but also rescues preexisting severe PAH.