No abstract

ObjectivePediatric liver transplantation presents a number of anesthetic challenges, especially in providing adequate perioperative analgesia. In an effort to reduce opioid consumption and improve functional outcomes following pediatric liver transplantation, we have instituted a novel analgesia protocol centered on the provision of continuous regional analgesia with erector spinae plane (ESP) blockade.CasesWe describe preincisional bilateral ESP catheter placement in two pediatric patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. The first case was a 12-year-old boy with maple syrup urine disease undergoing initial transplantation and the second case was an 8-year-old boy who underwent an 11 hours complex redo liver transplant in the setting of glycogen storage disease type 1A requiring initial liver transplant in 2014. The 8-year-old boy presented to the operating suite with acute Budd-Chiari syndrome with comorbid ascites and a large right pleural effusion. In both cases, ESP blockade resulted in good analgesia, markedly reduced intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption as compared with institutional data and published rates of consumption and was associated with rapid return of bowel function.ConclusionsThese early experiences suggest a role for continuous ESP blockade to improve analgesia and potentially change the paradigm of treatment in this fragile patient population. The technique should be considered in similar interventions. Further study will be undertaken to validate our observation.

Background: Facial fractures are painful injuries routinely managed by opioids after surgical repair. Studies have identified patient risk factors and prescribing patterns associated with opioid use in medicine and general surgery; however, little is known about these entities in the facial trauma population. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of opioid-naive patients undergoing surgical repair of facial fractures was conducted using the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters (2006 to 2015) and Medicaid Multi-State Databases (2011 to 2015). Eligible procedures included nasal, nasoorbitoethmoid, orbital, mandible, and Le Fort fracture repair. Opioid type, daily dosage, and prescription duration were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine independent predictors of prescription refill. Results: A total of 20,191 patients undergoing surgical repair of facial fractures were identified. Of these, 15,861 patients (78.6 percent) filled a perioperative opioid prescription. Refill (58.7 percent) and potentially inappropriate prescribing (39.4 percent) were common among this population. Patient factors including prior substance use (adjusted OR, 1.84; 95 percent CI, 1.63 to 2.07) and history of mental health disorder (adjusted OR, 1.43; 95 percent CI, 1.06 to 1.91) were independent predictors of refill. Increased odds of refill were seen in patients prescribed tramadol (OR, 1.98; 95 percent CI, 1.48 to 2.66) and those who underwent multiple surgical repairs (OR, 3.38; 95 percent CI, 2.54 to 4.50). Conclusions: Refill and potentially inappropriate prescribing occurred at high rates in facial trauma patients undergoing surgical repair. Additional studies are needed to develop guidelines for proper opioid prescribing in this population. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.