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Optimal pain management facilitates ambulation and rehabilitation, and therefore is essential for enhanced recovery after surgery [1]. Because pain is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon, multimodal analgesic strategy is recommended; however, it is inadequately and inappropriately applied in day-to-day clinical practice [2]. A critical factor in selection of a regional technique is the potential for adverse effects (i.e., higher risks versus benefits) and its invasiveness (i.e., neuraxial versus peripheral blocks). [...]although neuraxial blocks (e.g., epidural analgesia, paravertebral blocks, and intrathecal morphine) provide excellent pain relief, they may be inappropriate because they are more invasive and have a greater potential for adverse effects (e.g., delayed ambulation, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, urinary retention, and respiratory depression). [...]there is a need to perform well-designed, standardized prospective cohort studies, with minimal confounding factors with blocks performed by everyday practitioners. [...]for several surgical procedures, surgical site infiltration is now included as basic analgesic [9].

Background and objectivesEffective pain control improves postoperative rehabilitation and enhances recovery. The aim of this review was to evaluate the available evidence and to develop recommendations for optimal pain management after open liver resection using Procedure-Specific Postoperative Pain Management (PROSPECT) methodology.Strategy and selection criteriaRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the English language from January 2010 to October 2019 assessing pain after liver resection using analgesic, anesthetic or surgical interventions were identified from MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane databases.ResultsOf 121 eligible studies identified, 31 RCTs and 3 systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Preoperative and intraoperative interventions that improved postoperative pain relief were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, continuous thoracic epidural analgesia, and subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks. Limited procedure-specific evidence was found for intravenous dexmedetomidine, intravenous magnesium, intrathecal morphine, quadratus lumborum blocks, paravertebral nerve blocks, continuous local anesthetic wound infiltration and postoperative interpleural local anesthesia. No evidence was found for intravenous lidocaine, ketamine, dexamethasone and gabapentinoids.ConclusionsBased on the results of this review, we suggest an analgesic strategy for open liver resection, including acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, combined with thoracic epidural analgesia or bilateral oblique subcostal TAP blocks. Systemic opioids should be considered as rescue analgesics. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm and clarify the efficacy of the recommended analgesic regimen in the context of an enhanced recovery program.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESLaparoscopic hysterectomy is increasingly performed because it is associated with less postoperative pain and earlier recovery as compared with open abdominal hysterectomy. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the available literature regarding the management of pain after laparoscopic hysterectomy. STRATEGY AND SELECTION CRITERIARandomized controlled trials evaluating postoperative pain after laparoscopic hysterectomy published between January 1996 and May 2018 were retrieved, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, from the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials. Efficacy and adverse effects of analgesic techniques were assessed. RESULTSOf the 281 studies initially identified, 56 were included. Of these, 31 assessed analgesic or anesthetic interventions and 25 assessed surgical interventions. Acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and dexamethasone reduced opioid consumption. Limited evidence hindered recommendations on alpha-2-agonists. Inconsistent evidence was found in the studies investigating pregabalin and transversus abdominis plane block, and no evidence was found for intraperitoneal local anesthetics, port site infiltration, or single-port laparoscopy. Measures to lower peritoneal insufflation pressure or humidify or heat insufflated gas seem to reduce the incidence of shoulder pain, but not abdominal pain. CONCLUSIONSThe baseline analgesic regimen for laparoscopic hysterectomy should include acetaminophen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, dexamethasone, and opioids as rescue analgesics.

Purpose of Review A multimodal analgesic approach improves postoperative pain relief and reduces opioid use; however, it is not universally implemented. This review presents the evidence assessing multimodal analgesic regimens and recommends optimal analgesic combinations. Recent Findings The evidence for best combinations of individual patients undergoing specific procedures is lacking. Nevertheless, an optimal multimodal regimen may be determined based on identifying efficacious, safe, and inexpensive analgesics interventions. Summary Key components of an optimal multimodal analgesic regimen include the preoperative identification of patients at high risk for postoperative pain in addition to patient and caregiver education. Unless contraindicated, all patients should receive a combination of acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or cycoxygenase-2-specific inhibitor, dexamethasone, and procedure-specific regional analgesic technique and/or surgical site local anesthetic infiltration. Opioids should be administered as rescue adjuncts. Non-pharmacological interventions are important components of an optimal multimodal analgesic technique. It is imperative to integrate multimodal analgesia regimens within a multidisciplinary enhanced recovery pathway.

The suitability of ambulatory surgery for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the odds of perioperative adverse events in patients with OSA undergoing ambulatory surgery, compared to patients without OSA. Four electronic databases were searched for studies published between January 1, 2011 and July 11, 2023. The inclusion criteria were: adult patients with diagnosed or high-risk of OSA undergoing ambulatory surgery; perioperative adverse events; control group included; general and/or regional anesthesia; and publication on/after February 1, 2011. We calculated effect sizes as odds ratios using a random effects model, and additional sensitivity analyses were conducted. Seventeen studies (375,389 patients) were included. OSA was associated with an increased odds of same-day admission amongst all surgery types (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.46–2.59, I2:79%, P < 0.00001, 11 studies, n = 347,342), as well as when only orthopedic surgery was considered (OR 2.68, 95% CI 2.05–3.48, I2:41%, P < 0.00001, 6 studies, n = 132,473). Three studies reported that OSA was strongly associated with prolonged post anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS), while one study reported that the association was not statistically significant. In addition, four studies reported that OSA was associated with postoperative respiratory depression/hypoxia, with one large study on shoulder arthroscopy reporting an almost 5-fold increased odds of pulmonary compromise, 5-fold of myocardial infarction, 3-fold of acute renal failure, and 5-fold of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Ambulatory surgical patients with OSA had almost two-fold higher odds of same-day admission compared to non-OSA patients. Multiple large studies also reported an association of OSA with prolonged PACU LOS, respiratory complications, and/or ICU admission. Clinicians should screen preoperatively for OSA, optimize comorbidities, adhere to clinical algorithm-based management perioperatively, and maintain a high degree of vigilance in the postoperative period. ∙This is the first review to provide a quantitative synthesis of same-day admission data for ambulatory OSA patients vs non-OSA outpatients.∙Ambulatory surgical patients with OSA had two-fold higher odds of same-day admission compared to non-OSA patients.∙For orthopedic surgery, the odds were 2.7-fold higher.∙Clinicians should screen for OSA, optimize comorbidities, adhere to algorithm-based management, and maintain a high degree of vigilance postoperatively.

Background Opioid-sparing multimodal analgesic approach has been shown to provide effective postoperative pain relief and reduce postoperative opioid consumption and opioid-associated adverse effects. While many studies have evaluated analgesic strategies for elective cesarean delivery, few studies have investigated analgesic approaches in emergent cesarean deliveries under general anesthesia. The primary aim of this quality improvement project is to evaluate opioid consumption with the use of a multimodal opioid-sparing pain management pathway in patients undergoing emergent cesarean delivery under general anesthesia. Methods Seventy-two women (age > 16 years) undergoing emergent cesarean delivery under general anesthesia before ( n  = 36) and after ( n  = 36) implementation of a multimodal opioid-sparing pain management pathway were included. All patients received a standardized general anesthetic. Prior to implementation of the pathway, postoperative pain management was primarily limited to intravenous patient-controlled opioid administration. The new multimodal pathway included scheduled acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and ultrasound-guided classic lateral transversus abdominis plane blocks with postoperative opioids reserved only for rescue analgesia. Data obtained from electronic records included demographics, intraoperative opioid use, and pain scores and opioid consumption upon arrival to the recovery room, at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. Results Patients receiving multimodal opioid sparing analgesia (AFTER group) had lower opioid use for 72 h, postoperatively. Only 2 of the 36 patients (5.6%) in the AFTER group required intravenous opioids through patient-controlled analgesia while 30 out of 36 patients (83.3%) in the BEFORE group required intravenous opioids. Conclusions Multimodal opioid-sparing analgesia is associated with reduced postoperative opioid consumption after emergent cesarean delivery.

There have been many attempts to incorporate automation into the practice of anesthesiology, though none have been successful. Fundamentally, these failures are due to the underlying complexity of anesthesia practice and the inability of rule-based feedback loops to fully master it. Recent innovations in artificial intelligence, especially machine learning, may usher in a new era of automation across many industries, including anesthesiology. It would be wise to consider the implications of such potential changes before they have been fully realized.

We examined the association of body mass index (BMI) with hospital admission, same-day complications, and 30-day hospital readmission following day-case eligible joint arthroscopy. Retrospective cohort study. Multi-institutional. Adult patients undergoing arthroscopy of the knee, hip or shoulder in the outpatient setting. None. Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset from 2012 to 2016, we examined seven BMI ranges: normal BMI (≥20 kg/m2 and <25 kg/m2), underweight (<20 kg/m2), overweight (≥25 kg/m2 and <30 kg/m2), Class 1 and 2 obese (≥30 kg/m2 and <40 kg/m2, reference variable), and severe obesity, which we divided into the following BMI ranges: ≥40 kg/m2 and <50 kg/m2, ≥50 kg/m2 and <60 kg/m2, and ≥60 kg/m2. The primary outcome was hospital admission. Secondary outcomes included same-day postoperative complications and 30-day hospital readmission. We performed multivariable logistic regression and reported odds ratios (OR) and their associated 95% confidence interval (CI) and considered a p-value of <0.05 as statistically significant. There were a total of 99,410 patients included in the final analysis, in which there was a 2.6% rate of hospital admission. When compared to class 3 obesity, only those with BMI ≥50 kg/m2(OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.18–2.01, p = 0.005) had increased odds of hospital admission. There were no differences in 30-day hospital readmission or same-day postoperative complications. We found that only patients with BMI ≥50 kg/m2 had increased odds for same-day hospital admission even when patient's comorbid conditions are optimized, suggesting that a BMI ≥50 kg/m2 may be used as a sole factor for patient selection in patients undergoing joint arthroscopy. For patients with BMI <50 kg/m2, we recommend that BMI alone should not be solely used to exclude patients from having joint arthroscopies performed in an outpatient setting, especially since this patient group makes up a significant proportion of joint arthroscopy. •In patients undergoing day case eligible joint arthroscopic procedures, postoperative hospital admissions are increased with BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2•A BMI ≥50kg/m2 may be used as a sole factor for patient selection in patients undergoing joint arthroscopy• Inpatients with BMI <50 kg/m2, we recommend that BMI alone should not be solely used to exclude patients from having outpatient joint arthroscopies•Limited evidence exists to provide strong recommendations for a “cutoff” BMI for patients undergoing day-case eligible orthopedic surgery•With proper preoperative planning and medical optimization, a large number of morbidly obese patients can undergo ambulatory orthopedic surgery