Liposomal Bupivacaine in Erector Spinae Plane Block and Interscalene Block for Scapular and Proximal Humerus Resections

Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a novel fascial plane block that was first described in 2016. It is considered an alternative for brachial plexus blocks in shoulder surgeries as the erector spinae muscle extends to the cervical level. Herein, we present a successful multilevel ESPB plus an interscalene block using liposomal bupivacaine in a 45-year-old female patient with metastatic sarcoma who presented for scapula and proximal humerus resection. The post-operative course was smooth, and the patient was discharged home on post-operative day 2 with minimal narcotic requirements.

A Retrospective Comparison of Interscalene Continuous Catheter Verse Single-Injection with Liposomal Bupivacaine in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Background: One common method of pain control for total shoulder arthroplasty is long-duration delivery of local anesthetic via interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) with a continuous catheter. Alternatively, liposomal bupivacaine has also been administered as an ISB as a means to prolong the analgesic effect. This study was completed to measure the non-inferiority of single-injection ISB with liposomal bupivacaine compared with ISB continuous catheter for total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent total shoulder arthroplasty using either an ISB continuous catheter or a single injection ISB with liposomal bupivacaine for post operative analgesia. The primary goal of this study was to determine if single-injection with liposomal bupivacaine conferred non-inferior pain scores compared to the continuous catheter. Secondary outcomes evaluated oxygen saturation as a measure of hemidiaphragmatic paresis, post operative opioid requirements, and difference in cost. Results: We identified 333 patients for the study: 126 received continuous catheter and 207 received single-injection with liposomal bupivacaine. The median length of stay was 1 day. Pain scores for those treated with single-injection with liposomal bupivacaine were non-inferior to pain scores of those treated with the continuous catheter on post-op days 0, 1 and 2. Pain scores were lower for single-injection with liposomal bupivacaine patients on days 3 and 4, however they did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference in oxygen saturation between the two groups. Both groups had similar daily morphine milligram equivalent requirements. Liposomal bupivacaine ISB was also found to be less expensive. Conclusion: Single-injection ISB with liposomal bupivacaine provides non-inferior analgesia at a reduced cost compared with continuous catheter ISB for total shoulder arthroplasty.

Prolonged Opioid-Sparing Pain Control after Hemorrhoidectomy with Liposome Bupivacaine: Results from a Cohort of 95 Patients

The objective of this retrospective study was to examine the effects of an intraoperative injection of liposome bupivacaine on the quality and duration of postsurgical pain control, patient satisfaction, and opioid use in a cohort of patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy in an outpatient setting. Patients underwent ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy conducted by a single surgeon. Liposome bupivacaine 266 mg/20 mL was administered via infiltration at the end of surgery. After discharge, pain-related outcomes were assessed via telephone interviews. Outcomes of interest included first onset of pain after surgery, patient-reported pain intensity (0 = no pain;10 = worst pain imaginable), time to first use of orally administered opioids after surgery, number of opioid tablets consumed postsurgery, and patient’s satisfaction with postsurgical pain control. A total of 95 patients were included;the average number of hemorrhoids excised was 3.0 (median, 2.7) per patient. Mean time to first onset of pain after surgery was 36 hours;mean time to first consumption of postsurgical opioids was 38 hours. Mean pain intensity scores remained <5 through 72 hours after surgery. The average number of opioid analgesic tablets consumed after surgery was 12.4;13% (12/95) of patients required no postsurgical opioids. Seventy-five percent of patients reported being “very satisfied” or “perfectly satisfied” with their overall pain control. No liposome bupivacaine-related adverse events were observed. A single intraoperative injection of liposome bupivacaine safely facilitated ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy, eliminated the need for intravenous opioids, minimized opioid use, and was associated with high levels of patient satisfaction.