Intraoperative Methadone Reduces Postoperative Opioid Requirements in Nuss Procedure for Pectus Excavatum

Surgical correction of pectus excavatum by Nuss procedure, commonly referred to as minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE), often results in significant postoperative pain. This study investigated whether adding intraoperative methadone would reduce the postoperative opioid requirement during admission for patients undergoing MIRPE.

A retrospective cohort chart review was conducted for 40 MIRPE patients between 2018 and 2020. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: those who received multimodal anesthesia (MM, n = 20) and those who received multimodal anesthesia with the addition of intraoperative methadone (MM + M, n = 20). Data collected included total opioid consumption during hospital stay (morphine milligram equivalents [MMEs]), hospital length of stay (LOS), pain scores, time to ambulation, and time to tolerating solid food.

Addition of intraoperative methadone for patients undergoing MIRPE significantly reduced postoperative opioid requirements (MME/kg) during admission (P = .007). On average, patients in the MM group received 1.61 ± .55 MME/kg while patients in the MM + M group received 1.16 ± .44 MME/kg. Hospital opioid (non-methadone) total was also significantly reduced between the MM (1.87 ± .54) and MM + M group (1.37 ± .46), P = .003. There was no significant difference in hospital opioid total MME/kg administered between the groups. There were no significant differences observed in hospital LOS, pain scores, time to ambulation, or time to toleration of solid food.

Incorporating intraoperative methadone for patients undergoing MIRPE reduced postoperative opioid requirements and hospital opioid (non-methadone) totals without a significant change in pain scores. Patients undergoing the Nuss procedure may benefit from the administration of intraoperative methadone.