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Eur J Pediatr Surg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2117-4628
Original Article

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Cryoanalgesia for Pain Management following Pectus Excavatum Repair: A Single-Center, Single-Blind, Parallel Design Study

Gong Min Rim 
1   Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Nanoori Hospitals, Seoul, Republic of Korea
,
Hee Kyung Kim
2   Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery—Cardiothoracic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
,
Jung Min Koo
3   Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
,
Hyung Joo Park
4   Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Abstract

Introduction Conventional postoperative pain management, with an intravenous patient-controlled approach or thoracic epidural analgesia, has proved suboptimal following a minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum. Considering its postulated mechanism of action, we encouraged cryoanalgesia as an effective method for postrepair pain management and a possibly superior alternative.

Methods A randomized, single-blind clinical trial was tested on patients undergoing pectus excavatum (PE) repair in March and December 2022. Among 101 patients, consenting study participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: cryoanalgesia (group C, n = 24) or noncryoanalgesia (group N, n = 24). Group N received conventional pain management. Comparing the results, pain levels were measured using the visual analog scale (VAS-R for resting and VAS-D for dynamic) and the total rescue analgesic consumption was determined. Intrathoracic cryoablation was performed bilaterally on the fourth and seventh intercostal nerves using a cryoprobe at −80°C for 2 minutes.

Results The two groups had similar baseline-patient characteristics; however, group C had a longer mean operative time (159 vs. 125 minutes, p < 0.01) and experienced significantly less pain throughout the postoperative course, with VAS at 6 hours (5.38 vs. 7.04, p < 0.01) and 48 hours (3.17 vs. 5.67, p < 0.01).

Conclusion Cryoanalgesia improved postoperative pain control at rest and during movement following PE repair. However, the outcome was less favorable than expected because the VAS was greater than 4 (moderate pain), although after a day or two, it decreased to lower levels (VAS < 4) in the cyro group. Considering its extra invasiveness and instrumentation, a routine cryoanalgesia procedure for pectus surgery is yet to be determined.

Keywords

pectus excavatum - cryoanalgesia - postoperative pain control


Publication History

Received: 14 March 2023

Accepted: 22 June 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
26 June 2023

Article published online:
31 August 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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