The Association of Post-Operative Dexmedetomidine with Pain, Opiate Utilization, and Hospital Length of Stay in Children Post- Chiari Decompression

If you need an accessible version of this item, please submit a remediation request.
Date
2021-12-10
Language
American English
Embargo Lift Date
Committee Members
Degree
Degree Year
Department
Grantor
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Found At
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association of postoperative dexmedetomidine with markers of pain in children undergoing Chiari malformation decompression. The authors hypothesized that patients receiving dexmedetomidine postoperatively would have decreased cumulative opiate use. They further hypothesized that there would be no difference in median pain scores, outcomes, or medication adverse events.

Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing Chiari malformation decompression from December 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018, was performed. Patients aged 0-21 years who underwent intradural Chiari malformation decompression at a single institution were included. Data for those who used dexmedetomidine postoperatively were compared with those who did not use dexmedetomidine. The primary outcome was cumulative opiate use throughout hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included pain scores, ancillary medication use, adverse events, hospital and ICU length of stay, readmission rates, and hospital cost.

Results: The authors reviewed the records of 172 patients who underwent Chiari malformation decompression. Of those patients, 86 received dexmedetomidine postoperatively and 86 did not. Demographics were not different between the groups. Patients who received dexmedetomidine postoperatively received more doses of dexamethasone and were also more frequently exposed to dexmedetomidine intraoperatively (p = 0.028). Patients who received dexmedetomidine postoperatively used fewer morphine equivalents during their admission (1.02 mg/kg vs 1.43 mg/kg, p = 0.003). The patients who received dexmedetomidine postoperatively also had lower median pain scores on postoperative day 0 (0 vs 2, p < 0.001), lower median pain scores throughout the entire admission (1 vs 2, p < 0.001), and lower maximum pain scores recorded (6 vs 8, p = 0.005). Adjusting for steroid dose number and intraoperative dexmedetomidine exposure, postoperative dexmedetomidine remained associated with lower opiate dosing, lower pain scores on postoperative day 0, lower scores throughout hospital stay, and lower maximum pain scores. Patients who received dexmedetomidine had shorter hospital lengths of stay by 19 hours (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in medication adverse events or hospital costs between the two groups.

Conclusions: Postoperative dexmedetomidine use was associated with decreased opiate use, lower pain scores, and shorter hospital length of stay in this cohort. Dexmedetomidine may be considered as a safe adjuvant medication that may have opiate-sparing effects for this patient population.

Description
item.page.description.tableofcontents
item.page.relation.haspart
Cite As
Cater DT, Rogerson CM, Hobson MJ, Ackerman LL, Rowan CM. The association of postoperative dexmedetomidine with pain, opiate utilization, and hospital length of stay in children post-Chiari malformation decompression. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2021;29(3):312-318. Published 2021 Dec 10. doi:10.3171/2021.10.PEDS21291
ISSN
Publisher
Series/Report
Sponsorship
Major
Extent
Identifier
Relation
Journal
Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics
Source
PMC
Alternative Title
Type
Article
Number
Volume
Conference Dates
Conference Host
Conference Location
Conference Name
Conference Panel
Conference Secretariat Location
Version
Author's manuscript
Full Text Available at
This item is under embargo {{howLong}}