Cryoneurolysis entails using low temperatures to reversibly ablate nerves, with a subsequent analgesia duration measured in weeks or months. Previously, clinical applications for acute pain were limited because treatment originally required exposing the target nerve surgically. However, three developments have now made it possible to provide prolonged postoperative analgesia by cryoneurolysis: 1) new portable, hand-held cryoneurolysis devices, 2) ultrasound machine proliferation, and, 3) anesthesiologists trained in ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block administration. This report is the first to describe the use of a single preoperative administration of ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis to provide multiple weeks of analgesia following shoulder rotator cuff repair and total knee arthroplasty. Considering the significant benefits of cryoanalgesia relative to continuous peripheral nerve blocks (e.g., lack of catheter/pump care, extremely long duration), this analgesic modality may be a practical alternative for the treatment of prolonged post-surgical pain in a select group of surgical patients.
Acute Pain ; Analgesia* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Cryosurgery ; Humans ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Ultrasonography

Background: The rhomboid intercostal and subserratus plane (RISS) block is a new interfascial block technique that has shown promising results for abdominal and thoracic surgeries. Our objective was to describe the improved analgesia and dermatomal coverage in patients who received bilateral RISS blocks after a major abdominal surgery.Case: Twenty-one patients who underwent abdominal surgery received the rhomboid intercostal component of the block at the T5 to T6 levels, and the subserratus component block was performed at the T6 to T9 levels.The RISS blocks provided effective postoperative analgesia. There was a variation in the dermatomal coverage ranging from T3 to T12. Patients reported a high satisfaction rate from pain management. Conclusions The RISS block in abdominal surgery seems to have an important role in perioperative pain management, complementing the multimodal analgesic regimen. To determine the efficacy of the RISS block for abdominal surgery, we need further randomized control trials.

Background: The rhomboid intercostal and subserratus plane (RISS) block is a new interfascial block technique that has shown promising results for abdominal and thoracic surgeries. Our objective was to describe the improved analgesia and dermatomal coverage in patients who received bilateral RISS blocks after a major abdominal surgery.Case: Twenty-one patients who underwent abdominal surgery received the rhomboid intercostal component of the block at the T5 to T6 levels, and the subserratus component block was performed at the T6 to T9 levels.The RISS blocks provided effective postoperative analgesia. There was a variation in the dermatomal coverage ranging from T3 to T12. Patients reported a high satisfaction rate from pain management. Conclusions The RISS block in abdominal surgery seems to have an important role in perioperative pain management, complementing the multimodal analgesic regimen. To determine the efficacy of the RISS block for abdominal surgery, we need further randomized control trials.

Background: Despite improvements in techniques and management of liver transplant patients, numerous perioperative complications that contribute to perioperative mortality remain. Models to predict intraoperative massive blood transfusion, prolonged mechanical ventilation, or in-hospital mortality in liver transplant recipients have not been identified. In this study we aim to identify preoperative factors associated with the above mentioned complications. Methods: A retrospective observational analysis was conducted on data collected from 124 orthotopic liver transplants performed at a single institution between 2014 and 2017. A multivariable logistic regression using backwards elimination was performed for three defined outcomes (massive transfusion ≥ 10 units packed red blood cells (PRBC), prolonged mechanical ventilation > 24 h, and in-hospital mortality) to identify associations with preoperative characteristics. Results: Statistically significant (P < 0.05) associations with massive transfusion ≥ 10 units PRBC were hepatocellular carcinoma and preoperative transfusion of PRBC. Significant associations with prolonged mechanical ventilation > 24 h were hepatitis C, alcoholic hepatitis, elevated preoperative ALT, and hepatorenal syndrome. Male gender was protective for requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. End-stage renal disease and hepatitis B were significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Conclusions This study identified risk factors associated with common perioperative complications of liver transplantation. These factors may assist practitioners in risk stratification and may form the basis for further investigations of potential interventions to mitigate these risks.

Background: Same-day discharge, defined as discharge from the hospital within 24 h of surgery, has been shown to be safe for joint arthroplasty. We examined demographic and clinical factors associated with same-day discharge and unplanned readmission following shoulder arthroplasty in adult patients. Methods: Utilizing data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we extracted information of all patients that underwent shoulder arthroplasty. The primary and secondary outcome of interest was same-day discharge and 30-day unplanned readmission, respectively. We utilized multivariable logistic regression to identify covariates associated with these outcomes. Results: There were 17,011 patients analyzed when identifying predictors for same-day discharge. There was an increase in same-day discharge from 2007 to 2016. The odds of same-day discharge were significantly better for males (P < 0.001). The odds of same-day discharge was significantly decreased for every 10-year increase in age and for patients with insulin dependent diabetes, poor functional status, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, bleeding disorder, and comorbidity burden (all P < 0.001). There were 14,276 patients analyzed for hospital readmission. The odds of unplanned readmission were significantly higher for every 10-year increase in age and for patients with poor functional status, congestive heart failure, bleeding disorder, and higher comorbidity burden (all P < 0.001). Conclusions The results of this study show that preoperative comorbidities and advanced age reduce the odds of same-day discharge. Risk stratification, preoperative optimization, and coordinated care after surgery may be helpful to optimize patients for same-day discharge.

Background: Several hospitals have implemented a multidisciplinary Acute Pain Service (APS) to execute surgery-specific opioid sparing analgesic pathways. Implementation of an anesthesia attending-only APS has been associated with decreased postoperative opioid consumption, time to ambulation, and time to solid food intake for patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the impact of introducing an APS trainee on postoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy during POD 0–3. Methods: We performed a retrospective propensity-matched cohort study where we compared opioid consumption and hospital length of stay among two historical cohorts: attending-only APS service versus service involving a regional anesthesia fellow. Results: In the matched cohorts, the median postoperative day (POD) 0–3 opioid use [25%, 75% quartile] for the single attending and trainee involvement cohort were 38.5 mg morphine equivalents (MEQ) [14.1 mg, 106.3 mg] and 50.4 mg MEQ [28.4 mg, 91.2 mg], respectively. The median difference was –9.8 mg MEQ (95% CI -30.7–16.5 mg; P = 0.43). There was no difference in hospital length of stay between both cohorts (P = 0.67). Conclusions We found that the addition of a regional anesthesia fellow to the APS team was not associated with statistically significant differences in total opioid consumption or hospital length of stay in this surgical population. The addition of trainees to the infrastructure, with vigilant supervision, is not associated with change in outcomes.

Background: Rib fractures are a common injury in trauma patients and account for significant morbidity and mortality within this population. Local anesthetic-based nerve blocks have been demonstrated to provide significant pain relief and reduce complications. However, the analgesia provided by these blocks is limited to hours for single injection blocks or days for continuous infusions, while the duration of this pain often lasts weeks. Case: This case series describes five patients with rib fractures whose pain was successfully treated with cryoneurolysis. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis is a modality that has the potential to provide analgesia matching the duration of pain following rib fractures.

Background: Acute post-mastectomy pain is frequently challenging to adequately treat with local anesthetic-based regional anesthesia techniques due to its relatively long duration measured in multiple weeks.Case: We report three cases in which preoperative ultrasound-guided percutaneous intercostal nerve cryoneurolysis was performed to treat pain following mastectomy. Across all postoperative days and all three patients, the mean pain score on the numeric rating scale was 0 for each day. Similarly, no patient required any supplemental opioid analgesics during the entire postoperative period; and, no patient reported insomnia or awakenings due to pain at any time point. This was a significant improvement over historic cohorts. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoanalgesia is a potential novel analgesic modality for acute pain management which has a duration that better-matches mastectomy than other currently-described techniques. Appropriately powered randomized, controlled clinical trials are required to demonstrate and quantify both potential benefits and risks.