Postoperative pain control What to do after PCA? Spencer S. Liu, MD Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology Director Acute and Recuperative Pain Services

Disclosure HSS educational activities are carried out in a manner that serves the educational component of our Mission. As faculty we are committed to providing transparency in any/all external relationships prior to giving an academic presentation. Spencer S. Liu, MD Hospital for Special Surgery Disclosure: I do not have a financial relationship with any commercial interest.

Background Postoperative pain is a key issue for patients Large surveys indicate patients are more concerned about pain (59%) than surgical outcome (51%) Unfortunately, this concern remains justified Anesth Analg 2003:97:534

Background Multiple surveys report continued poor postoperative pain control Most recently in 2003 –250 adults –Mix of in-patient and ambulatory –75% reported experiencing pain during or after surgery –73% reported moderate to severe pain

Is postoperative pain that bad? Inherently, who wants pain –Guidelines from: WHO APS ASA Regulatory requirement: JCAHO Key patient satisfaction surveys: Press Ganey Pain can create bad outcomes –Morbidity –HRQOL –Development of chronic pain Anesth Analg 2007:104:689 Anesth Analg 2007:105:789

What can one do? Acute Pain Services are popular and effective Typically expensive Typically manage PCA modalities Anesth Analg 2002:95:1361

13 Anesthesiology. 104(5): ,2006

How well is pain controlled after the APS signs off? What happens after the APS signs off? Typically, the surgeons alone manage postoperative pain with po analgesia and write the home prescriptions Not so good per patient surveys Same here at HSS In March 2007 –Negative patient letters

Recuperative Pain Medicine RPM rolled out in August 2007 –Recurrent negative themes in patient letters, comments, and New York Times editorials Post-PCA patients experienced inadequate pain management with oral analgesics Post-PCA patients did not have easy access to a pain management expert

Based on these reports, a plan was formed Multidisciplinary team –Surgeon in Chief –Anesthesiologist in Chief –Executive Leadership –Director of Risk Management –Director of APS –Director of CPS –CAMS –Director of Patient education

Patient Education and Pain Management Preoperative Education “Pre-emptive” medications Postoperative PCA APS Postoperative PO Pain management Patient educationStaff education

How to measure impact? No currently standardized, validated tools We chose 3 outcome measure for before and after implementation measurement –Press Ganey Survey Administered to all postoperative patients to assess satisfaction Has specific questions on pain management Benchmarked against similar institutions –Staff satisfaction survey –Number of calls to Helpline Less is better Do all the work upfront

Preoperative educational role of RPM Worked with Patient education to update and expand sections on perioperative analgesia for pre-operative patient education classes for total joint replacement and spine surgery

Clinical role of RPM Designed to fill identified gaps Provide a seamless transition from the IV/Epidural PCA to oral medications Continued pain management monitoring thru to discharge. The RPM service collaborates with both the Acute Pain Service and Chronic Pain Service.

Administrative and Educational Role of RPM for postoperative care Created discharge medication policy –Correct meds –Enough pain meds until first FU visit Created discharge booklet –Written resource for patients on basic pain management information. Expectations for pain control Common pain medications Common expected side effects –All inpatients receive at discharge.

Patient Education and Pain Management Preoperative Education “Pre-emptive” medications Postoperative PCA APS Postoperative PO Pain management Patient educationStaff education

RPM Patient Volume Since August 2007, the volume of inpatient consults has steadily increased yearly Confirming need for further medical pain management after discontinuation of PCA therapy Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

Results of RPM Implementation Our primary outcome measure was the Press Ganey satisfaction survey. Philips, B., Liu, S., et al. “Creation of a Novel Recuperative Pain Medicine Service to Optimize Postoperative Analgesia and Enhance Patient Satisfaction”,HSS Journal (February 2010).

RPM HelpLine Start of RPM/ARJR Pilot Program (October 2010)

Staff satisfaction survey Returned by –81 RNs –7 surgical PAs 92% rated RPM as extremely helpful

Cost of RPM Cost for an NP ~ 150,000 USD USD/pt visit Could also use a Physician’s Assistant

Systemic multimodal analgesia

NSAIDs, COX2, Acetaminophen

Impact of Reuben retractions NSAIDs –No effect as no RCT retracted COX2 –Only 1 RCT with 60 patients retracted –One additional RCT demonstrating analgesic benefit with celecoxib in TKR BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2008;9:77. Acetaminophen –No effect as no RCT retracted

Gabapentin

Copyright restrictions apply. Tiippana, E. M. et al. Anesth Analg 2007;104: Figure 1. Flow diagram of the review

Copyright restrictions apply. Tiippana, E. M. et al. Anesth Analg 2007;104: Figure 2. Pain intensity difference between the control and gabapentin groups (PIDc-g) at rest (panel A) and on movement (panel B) on VAS during 24 h observation after a single 1200 mg dose 1-2 h before surgery

Copyright restrictions apply. Tiippana, E. M. et al. Anesth Analg 2007;104: Figure 3. Effect of preoperative gabapentin on postoperative opioid consumption

Side effects Reduction in opioid related side effects –Nausea: NNT=25 –Vomiting: NNT=6 –Urinary retention: NNT=7 Adverse effects –Sedation: NNH=35 –Dizziness: NNH=12

Pregabalin Laparoscopic hysterectomy –Opioid sparing –Increased dizziness Laparoscopy –Better analgesia –Trend toward increased dizziness Laparoscopic cholecystectomy –Better analgesia –Opioid sparing BJA 2008:101:700

Conclusions Discussed agents are efficacious Modest benefit NSAIDs and gabapentanoids have most to offer –Reduced opioid consumption –Reduced side effects –NSAIDs have more risk

Non-traditional techniques Acupuncture Music Static magnet Massage

Acupuncture

Anesth Analg 2008:106:611

Acupuncture May also depend on belief system 47/47 studies from China, Japan, and Taiwan found efficacy 53/96 studies from US, UK, and Sweden found efficacy

Music

Several RCTs Soft, relaxing music vs none during general anesthesia –Open inguinal hernia repair –Varicose vein stripping –Hysterectomy Very modest and short lived benefit from music Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2003:47, 278 Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2001:45, 812 Eur J Anaesthesiol 2005:22, 96

Ambulatory procedures Intraop music Control Pain in PACU (0-10) Patient satisfaction 43.9 Morphine (mg) Anesth Analg 2010:110:208

Magnet therapy Multi-billion dollar industry Mecanisms? –Increased blood flow –Altered neuron firing thresholds

Massage

Summary RPM service is efficacious –Probably cost effective –Can use different staffing models Optimize systemic analgesics Role of CAMS? –Acupuncture has best evidence