Effect of Regional Analgesia Techniques on Opioid Consumption and Length of Stay After Thoracic Surgery

Background We examined how intercostal nerve block (ICNB) with standard bupivacaine and ICNB with extended-release liposomal bupivacaine, compared with thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA), were associated with postoperative opioid pain medication consumption and hospital length of stay (LOS) after thoracic surgery. Methods We studied 1935 patients who underwent thoracic surgery between January 1, 2010, and November 30, 2017, at a tertiary academic center. Primary and secondary outcomes were postoperative opioid consumption expressed as morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) at 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery, the LOS, and total MME consumption from surgery to discharge. Results Of these patients, 888 (45.9%) received TEA, 730 (37.7%) ICNB with standard bupivacaine, 127 (6.6%) ICNB with liposomal bupivacaine, and 190 (9.8%) no regional analgesia. Compared with epidural analgesia, in 2017, ICNB liposomal bupivacaine provided similar pain control in terms of MME consumption at 24 and 72 hours, but decreased MME consumption at 48 hours (odds ratio [OR] = 0.33; confidence interval [CI] = 0.14-0.81) and at discharge (OR = 0.28; CI = 0.12-0.68) and was associated with a higher likelihood for a shorter LOS (hazard ratio = 3.46; CI = 2.42-4.96). Compared with TEA, ICNB with standard bupivacaine and no regional analgesia use showed varying impact on MME consumption between 24 and 72 hours after surgery, and their use was not associated with a significantly reduced MME consumption at discharge but with a shorter hospital LOS. Conclusions Multimodal analgesia involving regional anesthetic alternatives to TEA could help manage postoperative pain in thoracic surgery patients.