Article Text
Abstract
Background and Objectives We examined whether liposome bupivacaine (Exparel) given in the interscalene brachial plexus block lowers pain in the setting of multimodal postoperative pain management for major shoulder surgery.
Methods Fifty-two adult patients were randomized to receive either 5 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine HCl immediately followed by 10 mL of liposome bupivacaine 133 mg (n = 26) or 15 mL of 0.25% standard bupivacaine alone (n = 26) in interscalene brachial plexus block. The primary outcome (worst pain in the first postoperative week) was assessed by the Modified Brief Pain Inventory short form. Secondary outcomes were overall satisfaction with analgesia (OBAS), functionality of the surgical arm, sleep duration, time to first opioid (tramadol) request and opioid consumption (mEq), sensory-motor block characteristics, and the occurrence of adverse effects.
Results Worst pain was lower in patients given liposome bupivacaine added to standard bupivacaine than in patients given standard bupivacaine alone (generalized estimating equation [GEE] estimated marginal mean values, 3.6 ± 0.3 vs 5.3 ± 0.4 points on the Numeric Rating Scale, respectively, although the effect was modest, 1.6 ± 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.8–2.5). Total OBAS scores indicated greater satisfaction (GEE estimated marginal mean values, 1.8 ± 0.3 vs 3.3 ± 0.4 on total OBAS, respectively, with modest effect, difference, 1.4 ± 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.5–2.4). There were no differences in any of the other secondary outcomes.
Conclusions Liposome bupivacaine added to standard bupivacaine may lower pain and enhance patient's satisfaction in the first postoperative week even in the setting of multimodal analgesia for major shoulder surgery.
This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02554357) on July 11, 2015, by Principal Investigator Catherine Vandepitte, MD.
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Footnotes
The study was conducted with Ziekenhuis Öost-Limburg (ZOL) Ethics Committee and Belgian governmental agency (FAGG) approvals for investigational new drugs (EudraCT 2015-001559-55), and was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02554357) on July 11, 2015.
Dr. Hadzic has consulted and advised for Philipps, GE, Sonosite, Codman & Shrutleff, Inc. (Johnson and Johnson), Cadence, Pacira, Baxter, and B. Braun Medical. His recent industry-sponsored research includes Baxter and Pacira Pharma. Dr. Hadzic receives royalty income from B. Braun Medical.
Funding: This study was funded by Pacira Pharmaceuticals.
The rest of the authors declare no conflict of interest.
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