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Pain relief, patient satisfaction seen with methadone for posterior spinal fusion surgery
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Compared with patients who received hydromorphone, investigators found patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion surgery and received intraoperative methadone had less pain and were more satisfied with pain management in the immediate postoperative period.
Researchers performed a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial of 115 patients who underwent elective posterior lumbar, thoracic or lumbothoracic spinal fusion surgery. Sixty-two patients were randomized to receive methadone 0.2 mg/kg at the beginning of surgery and 53 patients received 2 mg of hydromorphone at the conclusion of the procedure. Patients had standardized anesthetic care. The intravenous hydromorphone consumption on postoperative day 1 was the primary outcome. At the post-anesthesia care unit admission, 1-hour and 2-hours post-admission and on the mornings and afternoons of postoperative day 1 through day 3, pain scores and pain management satisfaction were measured.
Results showed on day 1, day 2 and day 3 postoperatively, median hydromorphone was less in the methadone group. Investigators noted in 21 out of the 27 assessments, the methadone group had lower pain scores at rest, with movement and with coughing. Patients who received methadone vs. those who received hydromorphone had greater satisfaction with pain management overall until the morning of postoperative day 3. – by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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