Impact of Opioid-free Anesthesia After Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Propensity Score Study

Jean Selim1, Xavier Jarlier2, Thomas Clavier3

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France; Normandy Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1096, FHU REMOD-VHF, Rouen, France.

Abstract

Insights

Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) significantly reduces morphine use and postoperative pain following thoracic surgery. This approach is safe and effective for patients undergoing video-assisted or robotic-assisted procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Postoperative morphine consumption and pain are critical concerns after thoracic surgery, impacting respiratory complication prevention.
  • Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) presents a potential strategy to mitigate these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of OFA on morphine consumption and postoperative pain.
  • To compare OFA with traditional opioid anesthesia (OA) in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study utilizing propensity score analysis (PSA) compared an OFA group (dexmedetomidine, lidocaine, ketamine) with an OA group (remifentanil, morphine).
  • Key outcomes included cumulative 48-hour postoperative morphine consumption, pain scores at 24 and 48 hours, and respiratory/hemodynamic complications.

Main Results:

  • The OFA group demonstrated significantly lower cumulative 48-hour morphine consumption compared to the OA group (28.5 mg vs. 55 mg, P = .002 with PSA).
  • Postoperative pain scores were significantly reduced in the OFA group at both 24 and 48 hours post-surgery (P = .0088 and P = .021, respectively, with PSA).
  • No significant differences in respiratory or hemodynamic complications were observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • OFA is a safe and effective anesthetic technique for video-assisted and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery.
  • OFA is associated with reduced postoperative morphine consumption and pain levels.

Related Concept Videos

General Anesthesia: Overview01:24

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
326
Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy01:30

Endoscopic Studies I: Bronchoscopy and Thoracoscopy

Endoscopy is a non-surgical medical technique used to examine a person's internal organs and vessels. This lesson will focus on two types of endoscopic studies: bronchoscopy and thoracoscopy.
Bronchoscopy
Description
Bronchoscopy is a procedure that involves direct visualization of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A flexible fiber optic or rigid bronchoscope is used to carry out the procedure. The fiber-optic bronchoscope is more frequently used due...
302
Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management01:28

Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy may undergo a septal myectomy (Morrow procedure). This procedure involves excising a portion of the hypertrophied septum below the aortic valve using a heart-lung machine to improve blood flow through the LVOT. Effective preoperative and postoperative nursing management ensures successful patient outcomes, minimizes complications, and...
54
Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis01:26

Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis

Thoracentesis(Thoracocentesis), commonly known as pleural tap, is a medical procedure where a 22 gauge needle is inserted into the pleural space, the area between the lung and chest wall. This procedure is commonly performed to diagnose or treat various respiratory disorders.
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...
622
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
330
Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview01:20

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
584