The role of cytokines in acute and chronic postsurgical pain after major musculoskeletal surgeries in a quaternary pediatric center.

Study Objective: To determine if baseline cytokines/chemokines and their changes over postoperative days 0-2 (POD0-2) predict acute and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) after major surgery.

Design: Prospective, observational, longitudinal nested study.

Setting: University-affiliated quaternary children's hospital.

Multisite prospective study of perioperative pain management practices for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in adolescents: Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Improvement Network (SPAIN) Project Report.

Introduction: Although 200 000 adolescents undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery annually, no benchmarks for pediatric post-ACLR pain management exist. We created a multicenter, prospective, observational registry to describe pain practices, pain, and functional recovery after pediatric ACLR.

Methods: Participants (n=519; 12-17.

The Role of Cytokines in Acute and Chronic Postsurgical Pain in Pediatric Patients after Major Musculoskeletal Surgeries.

Study Objective: To determine if baseline cytokines and their changes over postoperative days 0-2 (POD0-2) predict acute and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) after major surgery.

Design: Prospective, observational, longitudinal nested study.

Setting: University-affiliated quaternary children's hospital.

A survey of practice in the anesthetic management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis spine fusion by the North American Pediatric Spine Anesthesiologists Collaborative.

Background: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) affects 2%-4% of the general pediatric population. While surgical correction remains one of the most common orthopedic procedures performed in pediatrics, limited consensus exists on the perioperative anesthetic management.

Aims: To examine the current state of anesthetic management of typical AIS spine fusions at institutions which have a dedicated pediatric orthopedic spine surgeon.

Current Evidence for Biological Biomarkers and Mechanisms Underlying Acute to Chronic Pain Transition across the Pediatric Age Spectrum.

Chronic pain is highly prevalent in the pediatric population. Many factors are involved in the transition from acute to chronic pain. Currently, there are conceptual models proposed, but they lack a mechanistically sound integrated theory considering the stages of child development.

Error traps and preventative strategies for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis spinal surgery.

Anesthesia for posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis remains one of the most common surgeries performed in adolescents. These procedures have the potential for significant intraprocedural and postoperative complications. The potential for pressure injuries related to prone positioning must be understood and addressed.

Association of race and socioeconomic status with time to pain control among pediatric trauma patients managed nonoperatively.

Background: Few studies have evaluated racial/ethnic inequities in acute pain control among hospitalized injured children. We hypothesized that there would be inequities in time to pain control based on race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all injured children (7-18 years) admitted to our level 1 trauma center between 2010 and 2019 with initial recorded numerical rating scale (NRS) scores of >3 who were managed nonoperatively.

Implementation of CYP2D6-guided opioid therapy at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Purpose: We describe the implementation of CYP2D6-focused pharmacogenetic testing to guide opioid prescribing in a quaternary care, nonprofit pediatric academic medical center.

Summary: Children are often prescribed oral opioids after surgeries, for cancer pain, and occasionally for chronic pain. In 2004, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center implemented pharmacogenetic testing for CYP2D6 metabolism phenotype to inform codeine prescribing.

Association of genotype predicted phenotypes with oxycodone requirements and side effects in children undergoing surgery.

Background: Oxycodone is a commonly used oral opioid in children for treating postoperative pain. Highly polymorphic gene metabolizes oxycodone into its more potent metabolite, oxymorphone. We hypothesized that altered activity due to polymorphisms will influence oxycodone requirements {relative oxycodone use [oxycodone morphine equivalents (MEq)/total MEq] to maintain analgesia} (primary outcome) and risk for oxycodone induced side-effects such as respiratory depression (RD) and emesis (secondary outcomes).

Evaluating the role for regional analgesia in children with spina bifida: a retrospective observational study comparing the efficacy of regional versus systemic analgesia protocols following major urological surgery.

Introduction: Regional techniques are a key component of multimodal analgesia and help decrease opioid use perioperatively, but some techniques may not be suitable for all patients, such as those with spina bifida. We hypothesized peripheral regional catheters would reduce postoperative opioid use compared with no regional analgesia without increasing pain scores in pediatric patients with spina bifida undergoing major urological surgery.

Methods: A retrospective review of a multicenter database established for the study of enhanced recovery after surgery was performed of patients from 2009 to 2021 who underwent bladder augmentation or creation of catheterizable channels.

Retrospective study comparing outcomes of multimodal epidural and erector spinae catheter pain protocols after pectus surgery.

Introduction: There are no optimal postoperative analgesia regimens for Nuss procedures. We compared the effectiveness of thoracic epidurals (EPI) and novel ambulatory erector spinae plane (ESP) catheters as part of multimodal pain protocols after Nuss surgery.

Methods: Data on demographics, comorbidities, perioperative details, length of stay (LOS), in hospital and post discharge pain/opioid use, side effects, and emergency department (ED) visits were collected retrospectively in children who underwent Nuss repair with EPI (N = 114) and ESP protocols (N = 97).

Design and implementation of a novel patient-centered empowerment approach for pain optimisation in children undergoing major surgery.

Background: Paediatric surgery is a stressful experience for patients and caregivers. While standardised protocols are the norm, patient-centred approaches are needed to empower patients/caregivers for an optimal perioperative pain experience. To address this gap, we employed a patient-centred approach using design thinking (DT) methodology to develop insights, map processes, identify opportunities and design solutions for individualised empowerment tools.

Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms influencing acute to chronic postsurgical pain transitions in pediatrics: Preclinical to clinical evidence.

Background: Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) in children remains an important problem with no effective preventive or therapeutic strategies. Recently, genomic underpinnings explaining additional interindividual risk beyond psychological factors have been proposed.

Aims: We present a comprehensive review of current preclinical and clinical evidence for genetic and epigenetic mechanisms relevant to pediatric CPSP.

Timely completion of spinal fusion: A multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative to improve operating room efficiency.

Background: Failure to complete surgery within the scheduled timeframe impairs operating room efficiency leading to patient dissatisfaction and unplanned labor costs. We sought to improve timely completion (within 30 min of scheduled time) of first-case spine fusion surgery (for idiopathic scoliosis) from a baseline of 25%-80% over 12 months. We also targeted timely completion of perioperative stages within predetermined target completion times.

Fascia Iliaca Pain Block Results in Lower Overall Opioid Usage and Shorter Hospital Stays than Epidural Anesthesia After Hip Reconstruction in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Introduction And Objective: Epidural anesthesia (EA) is often used for pain control in children with cerebral palsy (CP) who undergo hip reconstructions. The purpose of this study is to determine if preoperative fascia iliaca (FI) pain blocks would improve pain scores, decrease opioid use, and result in shorter hospital stays in comparison to the use of EA.

Methods: This is a nonrandomized retrospective cohort study examining 60 consecutive patients with CP who underwent hip reconstruction utilizing either a fascia iliac compartment nerve block (FICNB) (N=37) or continuous lumbar epidural (N=22) from January 2017 to March 2019.

Pragmatic comparative effectiveness study of multimodal fascia iliaca nerve block and continuous lumbar epidural-based protocols for periacetabular osteotomy.

Perioperative pain management protocols have a significant impact on early surgical outcomes and recovery. We hypothesized that multimodal protocol including fascia iliaca compartment nerve block (MM-FICNB) would decrease the length of hospital stay (LOS) by facilitating earlier mobilization, without compromising analgesia, compared to a traditional lumbar epidural-based protocol (EP). Demographics/comorbidities, surgical/block characteristics and perioperative pain/mobilization data were collected from a prospectively recruited MM-FICNB group ( = 16) and a retrospective EP cohort ( = 16) who underwent PAO using similar surgical techniques, physical therapy/discharge criteria.

Pediatric Pain Screening Tool: A Simple 9-Item Questionnaire Predicts Functional and Chronic Postsurgical Pain Outcomes After Major Musculoskeletal Surgeries.

Reliable, clinic-friendly screening for Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) risk is unavailable. Within a prospective, observational study, we evaluated Pediatric Pain Screening Tool (PPST), a concise 9-item questionnaire, as a preoperative screening tool to identify those at higher risk for CPSP (Numerical Rating Scale > 3/10 beyond 3 months post-surgery) and poor function (disability/Functional Disability Inventory [FDI]/quality of life/ Pediatric Quality of Life) after spine fusion and Nuss procedures. Incidence of CPSP was 34.

Systems Biology Guided Gene Enrichment Approaches Improve Prediction of Chronic Post-surgical Pain After Spine Fusion.

Objectives: Incorporation of genetic factors in psychosocial/perioperative models for predicting chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is key for personalization of analgesia. However, single variant associations with CPSP have small effect sizes, making polygenic risk assessment important. Unfortunately, pediatric CPSP studies are not sufficiently powered for unbiased genome wide association (GWAS).

Methylation quantitative trait locus analysis of chronic postsurgical pain uncovers epigenetic mediators of genetic risk.

Overlap of pathways enriched by single nucleotide polymorphisms and DNA-methylation underlying chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP), prompted pilot study of CPSP-associated methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTL). Children undergoing spine-fusion were recruited prospectively. Logistic-regression for genome- and epigenome-wide CPSP association and DNA-methylation-single nucleotide polymorphism association/mediation analyses to identify meQTLs were followed by functional genomics analyses.

Postoperative Pain Management in Pediatric Spinal Fusion Surgery for Idiopathic Scoliosis.

This article reviews and summarizes current evidence and knowledge gaps regarding postoperative analgesia after pediatric posterior spine fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a common procedure that results in severe acute postoperative pain. Inadequate analgesia may delay recovery, cause patient dissatisfaction, and increase chronic pain risk. Despite significant adverse effects, opioids are the analgesic mainstay after scoliosis surgery.