Opioid-Sparing Analgesia for Sternotomy: Do Surgical Site Continuous Local Anesthetics Actually Work?

INADEQUATE PAIN control after cardiac surgery in patients with midline sternotomy can result in increased morbidity and hospital stay.1 Many factors contribute to this pain, including physician reluctance to give large doses of opioids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs because of the risk of addiction, kidney injury, or bleeding. In addition, opioid side effects such as respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting, decreased gastrointestinal motility, and potential peripheral vasodilation may worsen the patient's condition and produce unfavorable outcomes.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research