Barazanchi AWH, MacFater WS, Rahiri JL et al.
British Journal of Anaesthesia 2018; 121 (4): 787-803
Introduction
The mainstay treatment for benign biliary disease is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Analgesia is a crucial part of treatment and has efficiency and cost implications. Pain increases length of stay and results in increased readmission rates.
This review was designed to consider clinical practice, efficacy and adverse effects of analgesic techniques. This was an update following the PROSPECT (PROcedure SPECific Postoperative Pain ManagemenT) review in 2005.
Methods
This review used searches with a variety of combinations of words associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy and analgesia. They searched a variety of online databases including EMBASE and MEDLINE between August 2005 and December 2017.
Inclusion criteria: RCTs and systematic reviews
Exclusion criteria: Acute laparoscopic cholecystectomy and non-English language studies
Quality assessment:
- Numerical scores for study quality
- Allocation concealment assessment
- Statistical analysis and patient follow-up assessment
- Additional study quality assessment
Analysis of outcomes: summary information for each included study was extracted and recorded in data tables, eg pain scores and supplementary analgesic use. The effectiveness of each intervention was evaluated qualitatively by assessing the number of studies showing a significant difference between treatment arms (p<0.05).
Formulation of recommendations: level of evidence was graded A-D as determined by the quality of the study included.
Results
Recommended as first line for routine use
Paracetamol
This is effective pre, intra and post operatively. Two studies showed a significant reduction in pain scores two hours post op with iv pre-operative paracetamol. An RCT of oral vs iv showed no significant difference in pain scores. Another study of iv paracetamol vs dexmedetomidine showed reduced pain with dexmedetomidine in twenty four hours, but the dexmedetomidine resulted in more sedation and the paracetamol group still had good pain scores. A further study with paracetamol iv vs tramadol iv showed those with paracetamol had less pain and less sedation than sole use of tramadol.
NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors
Pre-operatively the previous review recommended NSAIDs (Grade B). Seven new papers showed reduced pain or analgesic requirement or both with NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors preoperatively. Two papers showed reduced pain and or analgesic requirement post-operatively if given intra-operatively. With regard to post-operative administration, one study showed reduced pain and opioid consumption, another showed lower rescue analgesia, but no change in pain scores and another two studies showed a combination of pre- and post-operative NSAIDs resulted in reduction in pain vs placebo.
Dexamethasone
The previous review recommended its use (Grade B). Seven new studies with pre-operative dexamethasone showed it was effective up to forty eight hours and five studies showed a reduction in nausea and vomiting.
Wound local anaesthetic
The previous review recommended local anaesthetic administration. One study with ropivacaine vs placebo showed reduction in pain and analgesia requirement until twenty four hours. One study using intraperitioneal LA and wound LA found a reduction in pain. Another using placebo vs intraperitoneal LA or wound LA found no significant difference.
Opioids as rescue
There were no new RCTs with breakthrough vs placebo. One study using fentanyl vs oxycodone PCA showed no difference. One study showed oxycodone was better than fentanyl post-operatively but had more side effects.
Surgical technique
Studies show less pain with:
- Low pressure (<12mmHg)
- Saline lavage and suction
- Aspiration of pneumoperitoneum gas
- Mini-port
Analgesia not recommended routinely but consider use
Pre-operative gabapentinoids were effective in ten studies but no difference in five studies.
Intraoperative intraperitoneal LA – twenty six studies showed reduced pain scores.
TAP block – nine studies showed decreased pain scores vs placebo or morphine alone and six studies showed no difference vs placebo.
Not recommended routinely
Ketamine, magnesium, alpha-2 agonists, regional anaesthesia, lidocaine infusion, esmolol infusion, single port surgical techniques and warmed humidified insufflation gas.
Discussion
The recommended first line analgesia medication and techniques and the second line options include paracetamol and NSAIDs (grade A evidence), port site LA (grade A) and rescue opioid analgesia (grade B). One of the reasons for recommending rescue opioids rather than first line is in view of the side effect profile related to many opioids. Their decision for gabapentinoids as second line is due to the unknown correct dose for these drugs and the incidence of sedation related to their use.
With regards to the not recommended options, ketamine studies showed mixed results and hallucinations were considered a risk, magnesium may cause potentiation of muscle relaxation. During discussion in our department this potentiation was seen as a positive side effect as a second dose of muscle relaxant was often not required with magnesium, when prior to its use it often was given, with clinically observed adequate return of muscle function. Alpha-2 agonists had limited evidence and had potential for adverse effects. Regional anaesthesia techniques such as epidural or paravertebral blocks had potential for complications or failure and epidural techniques would be counterintuitive in ambulatory patients. Lidocaine and esmolol infusions post-operatively would require close monitoring and considered a risk of overdose. They do not recommend its use as a one off dose at induction which could be further investigated.
This study is wide ranging but is obviously dependent on the scope and quality of the studies it uses. They do comment on the fact that many of the studies did not state routine analgesic protocols or did not provide basic analgesia such as paracetamol or NSAIDs which is not so clinically relevant.
Summary by Dr M Chandler. Journal Club Meeting 18 October 2018.
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