Background: Continuous interscalene brachial plexus block (CISB) is well known to reduce postoperative pain and to improve patient satisfaction. However, the effect of CISB on the quality of postoperative recovery is unknown. We Compared the quality of recovery from arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in patients who received CISB or single interscalene brachial plexus block (SISB).
Methods: This prospective non-randomized controlled trial with propensity score matching enrolled 134 patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery for rotator cuff repair. Each patient received an interscalene block before surgery. One group had a catheter insertion 30 min after the end of surgery and started patient-controlled regional analgesia (PCRA, n = 49). The other group received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA, n = 85). The primary outcome was the quality of recovery (QoR-40) score. Also, postoperative analgesia, sleep quality, and postoperative complications were evaluated.
Results: The two groups had similar QoR-40 score on postoperative day-1 (POD1), but the PCRA group had a significantly greater QoR-40 score on POD2 (156.0, IQR: 143.0, 169.0 vs. 171.0, IQR: 159.0, 178.0; p < 0.001). The IV-PCA group received more analgesics during the 2 days after surgery, especially during night-time, and had a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances. The time to first additional analgesics request was significantly longer in PCRA group (14 hours, 95% CI: 13-16 vs. 44 hours, 95% CI: 28-not applicable). The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting significantly lower in the PCRA group (16.3% vs 46.9%, p = 0.002).
Conclusion: CISB showed a higher quality of recovery score than SISB with IV-PCA in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, probably related to the effective analgesia, improved sleep quality, and reduced opioid-related complications.
Keywords: elbow & shoulder; nerve block; postoperative pain; quality of recovery.