We are pleased to announce the publication of a new article in the Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal, which explores the potential benefits of opioid-sparing anesthesia (OSA) for post-cardiac surgery recovery.
Increasing evidence suggests that OSA can reduce adverse events associated with opioids. This study aims to determine if OSA could enhance early recovery after heart surgery. The research involved patients undergoing elective cardiac procedures between July 2023 and July 2024, from which data were analyzed.
The participants were randomly divided into two groups: an OSA group and a control group. Patients in the OSA group received 0.5 to 1 μg·kg −1 sufentanil along with ultrasound-guided nerve block after anesthesia induction, while those in the control group underwent traditional high-dose opioid management. Both groups were treated with identical sedatives, muscle relaxants, and other necessary medications.
The primary outcome measured was the Quality of Recovery (QoR-15) survey score 24 hours post-surgery. Out of the initial 1916 patients screened, 1218 met the inclusion criteria: 392 in the OSA group and 826 in the control group.
The QoR-15 global scores recorded at day one after surgery were significantly higher for those in the OSA group (mean score of 119.29 ± 3.25) compared to the control group (mean score of 113.87 ± 3.44, p < 0.001). Additionally, patients in the OSA group reported lower numeric rating scale scores for pain both at day one and day three post-surgery (p < 0.001).
The median duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly shorter in the OSA group (median of 1.0 hour; IQR: 0-5 hours) compared to the control group (median of 8.0 hours; IQR: 6-14 hours, p < 0.001). Similarly, hospital stays were slightly but significantly reduced in the OSA group with a median duration of stay of 11.5 days (IQR: 9-14 days) versus 12 days (IQR: 10-14 days), respectively (p = 0.012).
The study findings suggest that using ultrasound-guided nerve block as part of OSA can significantly improve QoR-15 scores after cardiac surgery, indicating it to be a viable and beneficial analgesic strategy for enhancing patient outcomes.
