Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34372726›Full record

SynthesisOtolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery2022

Multimodal Analgesia in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction: A Systematic Review.

Beatrice C Go, Cammille C Go, Kevin Chorath, Alvaro Moreira, Karthik Rajasekaran

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed
3.3field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Monotherapy vs. combination paracetamol and tramadol for cancer-related pain in the emergency department: a comparative study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Trial
  2. Trial
  3. Inpatient Opioid Use in Head and Neck Microvascular Free Flap Reconstruction.Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Chronic Pain in the Cancer Survivor.Current pain and headache reports · 2025
    Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. A retrospective analysis of pain and opioid usage in head and neck free flap reconstruction.World journal of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery · 2023
    Article
  13. Psychological Survivorship in Head and Neck Cancer.Seminars in plastic surgery · 2023
    Review
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Nonopioid perioperative analgesia in head and neck cancer surgery: A systematic review.World journal of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery · 2022
    Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Beatrice C GoDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Cammille C GoPerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kevin ChorathDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Alvaro MoreiraDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Texas Health-San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Karthik RajasekaranDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
University of Pennsylvania · USThe University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivePostoperative pain after head and neck cancer surgery is commonly treated with opioids, which are associated with considerable side effects. The objective of this study is to analyze the safety and efficacy of using multimodal analgesia (MMA) for patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov. REVIEW

methodsAll studies comparing patients receiving MMA (gabapentin, corticosteroids, local anesthetic, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]) vs patients receiving opioids for head and neck cancer surgery with free flap reconstruction were screened. The primary outcome was postoperative opioid usage. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, subjective pain scores, surgical/medical complications, adverse effects, and 30-day outcomes.

resultsA total of 10 studies representing 1253 patients (MMA, n = 594; non-MMA, n = 659) met inclusion criteria. Gabapentinoids were the most commonly used intervention (72.9%) followed by NSAIDs (44.6%), acetaminophen (44.3%), corticosteroids (25.1%), ketamine (7.2%), and nerve block (3.4%). Eight studies reported a significant decrease in postoperative opioid usage in the MMA groups. Subjective pain had wider variation, with most studies citing significant pain improvement. There were no differences in surgical outcomes, medical complications, adverse effects, or 30-day mortality and readmission rates.

conclusionWith the rise of the opioid epidemic, MMA may play an important role in the treatment of postoperative pain after head and neck cancer surgery. A growing body of literature demonstrates a variety of effective perioperative regimens.

Indexed as

AnalgesiaFree Tissue FlapsHead and Neck NeoplasmsAcetaminophenAnalgesics, OpioidAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalHumansPain MeasurementPostoperative PainAcetaminophenAnalgesics, OpioidAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidalanalgesiafree tissue flapshead and neck neoplasmNSAIDopioidspain management

Identifiers

PMID34372726
OpenAlexW3187896555

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.