Evaluation of the Effect of New Multimodal Analgesia Regimen for Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled, Single-Center Clinical Study

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2023 Jun 7:17:1665-1677. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S406929. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of multimodal regimen by paracetamol, gabapentin, ketamine, lidocaine, dexmedetomidine and sufentanil among cardiac surgery patients, and compare the analgesia efficacy with conventional sufentanil-based regimen.

Design: A single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Setting: One participating center, the cardiovascular center of the major integrated teaching hospital.

Participants: A total of 115 patients were assessed for eligibility: 108 patients were randomized, 7 cases were excluded.

Interventions: The control group (group T) received conventional anesthesia management. Interventions in the multimodal group (group M) were as follows in addition to the standard of care: gabapentin and acetaminophen 1 hour before surgery; ketamine for induction and to maintain anesthesia with lidocaine and dexmedetomide. Ketamine, lidocaine, and dexmedetomidine were added to routine sedatives postoperatively in group M.

Measurements and main results: The incidence of moderate-to-severe pain on coughing made no significant difference (68.5% vs 64.8%, P=0.683). Group M had significantly less sufentanil use (135.72µg vs 94.85µg, P=0.000) and lower rescue analgesia rate (31.5% vs 57.4%, P=0.007). There was no significant difference in the incidence of chronic pain, PONV, dizziness, inflammation index, mechanical ventilation time, length of stay, and complications between the two groups.

Conclusion: Our multimodal regimen in cardiac surgery is feasible, but was not superior to traditional sufentanil-based regimen in the aspects of analgesia effects; however, it did reduce perioperative opioid consumption along with rescue analgesia rate. Moreover, it showed the same length of stay and the incidences of postoperative complications.

Keywords: cardiac surgery; multimodal analgesia; prognosis.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Case Reports
  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen
  • Analgesia*
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures*
  • Chronic Pain*
  • Dexmedetomidine*
  • Gabapentin
  • Humans
  • Ketamine*
  • Lidocaine
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sufentanil

Substances

  • Ketamine
  • Sufentanil
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Gabapentin
  • Lidocaine
  • Acetaminophen

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Zhongshan Hospital Clinical Special Research Fund [Grant number 2020ZSLC13] and Shanghai Municipal Health Commission Clinical Research Program [Grant number 202140270].